NNA – The first military planes carrying mostly European nationals evacuated from Niger landed in Paris and Rome on Wednesday, with France and other countries expected to fly more of their citizens out of the West African country after last week#39;s coup.
A military juntanbsp;overthrewnbsp;Niger#39;s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum and his government on July 26 in the seventhnbsp;military takeovernbsp;in less than three years in West and Central Africa.
With the risk of conflict escalating, France, the former colonial power, Italy and Spain said they would evacuate citizens by air.
The first French flight left Niger on Tuesday evening and landed in Paris early on Wednesday with 262 people on board, according to Reuters journalists there.
quot;Things could have turned ugly but it still is nice to be back here,quot; a French evacuee who gave his name as Charles told Reuters TV.–Reutersnbsp;
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