West Africa correspondent Mark Doyle: "Military officers have taken power in a violent way"

The commander of Niger's presidential guard, Daouda Mallam Wanke, was apointed interim head of state on Monday, following the assassination of Niger's President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara.

State radio named Major Wanke the new president and reported that he will govern a National Council for Reconciliation for the next nine months.

President Mainassara: Took power in a coup in 1996

President Mainassara was killed just two days ago.

He was assassinated by the presidential guard which Major Wanke had been in charge of, according to the US State Department and most other sources including eyewitnesses.

Diplomatic sources say Major Wanke himself took part in the killing.

Looking to Nigeria

Pro-democracy activists are lobbying Niger's new military rulers to follow the political model being pursued by soldiers in neighbouring Nigeria, where a transition from army to civilian rule is taking place.

BBC World Service Africa Section's Munnir Dan-Ali: "There has been quiet reaction to the announcement"

The activists, who have been consulting with the soldiers in Niger, are said to be optimistic about plans that civilians have put forward to hand over to an elected president before the year 2000.

But our West Africa Correspondent, Mark Doyle, says until the junta announces a clear transition timetable and sticks to it, all the political cards are still in the air.

The governments of Nigeria and Ivory Coast - the two main regional power brokers - have condemned the coup.

'Classic coup'

Military leaders have ordered the Supreme Court and National Assembly to be dissolved, and the constitution to be suspended.

"The armed forces of Niger understand the gravity of the situation and decided to put to rest the institutional void created by the sudden death of General Bare," said a military spokesman, Hamidou Djibrila.

Our correspondent says the country has undergone a classic coup d'etat.

All Niger's superior military and police officers, and the head of the army, Colonel Moussa Moumouni Djermakoye, have been retired.

Colonel Djemarkoye, who attended the president's funeral, is reported to have refused to take over leadership of the country.

African journalist Stephen Smith talks about how much is known about Major Wanke

Military sources say he had been asked to govern by other chiefs of staff and military officials.