The meetings - taking place behind closed doors - involve military leaders who apparently organised the assassination, and politicians who were opposed to the former president's rule.

In the days before the shooting of President Mainassara, opposition activists had warned of widespread unrest in protest at the annulment of elections.

Mark Doyle reports from Niger

The BBC West Africa correspondent Mark Doyle, reporting from Niger, says it is possible the military may try to prolong army rule.

However, he quotes sources in the pro-democracy movement as saying that the death of the president may open up the chance for new elections - although this depends almost entirely on the goodwill of the soldiers.

Parliament dissolution condemned

On Friday, the prime minister, Ibrahim Assana Mayaki, said the military would remain in power until the formation of "a government of national unity" in a few days.

MPs condemned the prime minister's move to dissolve parliament. They said they would continue to operate.

They said that the constitution says the parliamentary speaker takes power and organises elections following the death of the head of state. Some brandished copies of the document.

President Mainassara: Took power in a coup in 1996

The assassinated military leader did organise a series of elections during his period in power, but the results have been consistently rejected by pro-democracy activists as rigged.

The French news agency AFP said that two possible successors have been mentioned - Major Daouda Mallam Wanke, who commands the first military region and the presidential guard, and Colonel Moussa Moumouni Djermakoye, the army chief of staff.

It reported Togolese sources as saying that Major Wanke had been directly involved in the assassination and had been slightly wounded.

Some reports said a successor would not be announced until after President Mainassara is buried on Sunday.

Borders reopen

State controlled radio reported that the borders reopened and most of the troops deployed in Niamey were withdrawn on Friday.

Details of the president's assassination remain sketchy.

American diplomats said he was killed at Niamey airport by members of his personal guard after trying to sack his chief of military staff, Musa Mumuni Djermoukoi.

Reports said the president was shot as he prepared to board his helicopter on a trip to a provincial town.