**A referendum is being held in Niger which would allow President Mamadou Tandja to seek a third term in office.**The proposal has deeply divided the country and the opposition is calling on voters to boycott the poll, which they describe as a coup d’etat.
Mr Tandja has dissolved both parliament and the constitutional court to push through his referendum plan.
The president’s supporters say he has boosted living standards in one of the world’s poorest countries.
He says the people want him to stay in power, and his actions reflect their will.
But his efforts have caused widespread protests and sparked international condemnation.
MAMADOU TANDJA
- Former army colonel, part of 1974 coup
- First elected in 1999
- First Niger leader to be re-elected - in 2004
- Says he must stay in office to continue economic projects
- Critics say the referendum is the same as a coup
Huge posters of Mr Tandja have been plastered throughout the capital, Niamey, and other main cities.
The BBC’s Idy Baraou in Niamey says state media has been calling on voters to say “Yes” to changing the constitution so the 71-year-old president can stay in office.
The official campaign says a “Yes” will improve people’s lives, whereas a “No” vote means the country will remain mired in poverty.
The move would allow him an initial three-year term, and then he would be able to run for re-election with no term limits.
Mr Tandja was first elected in 1999, and then again five years later.
He had previously promised to quit in December this year, a month after presidential elections are due to be held.
But the president’s supporters argue he should be allowed a third term.
They point to his success in sealing deals with international energy firms over oil and uranium exploration.
And the president has argued that he needs more time to finish other large projects, such as a dam on the River Niger, which is intended to increase electricity generation and provide irrigation to help local farmers.
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