Participants at a Sunday rally in the Nigerien capital of Niamey called for the extension of President Mamadou Tandja's term, according to news reaching here.
Many Nigeriens including Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou participated the rally, held in front of Niger's parliament building, to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the second term of the Tandja.
Participants also proposed for a three-year transition period, starting from Dec. 22, 2009 when the president concludes his second term, and the extension of other institutions such as the parliament during the transition time as well.
They petitioned the head of the state to accept the proposal and the parliament to discuss it.
They also called for a new constitution to be drafted to change the current system of semi-parliament and semi-president, under which the presidential term is five years and the president can be re-elected only once.
Similar rallies and demonstrations also took place in other parts of the West African country, according to the reports.
Tandja, 69, was elected president in 1999 and re-elected in 2004.
Source:Xinhua
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