OREANDA-NEWS  The putschists in Niger announced the closure of the country's airspace until further notice, the France24 TV channel reports. "Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming increasingly evident thanks to the preparations of neighboring countries, Niger's airspace is closed (...) for all aircraft until further notice," the channel quotes the statement of the Niger military.

According to the TV channel, the rebels warned that any attempt to violate the airspace would be met with a "vigorous and immediate response."

At the same time, the French Foreign Ministry announced that Paris was suspending aid to Burkina Faso, which supported the rebels in Niger.

"France is suspending until further notice all its actions to provide development assistance and budget support in Burkina Faso," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, Mali and Burkina Faso supported the putschists. Moreover, their authorities warned that they would perceive any foreign military intervention in Niger as a declaration of war against them.

On Sunday, when the ultimatum of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which threatened Niger with military intervention, expires, thousands of rebel supporters gathered at Niamey Stadium.

Earlier, representatives of the Putschist National Council for the Salvation of the Motherland (CNSP) arrived at the almost completely filled stadium with 30,000 seats, French media reported, noting the "festive atmosphere".

On July 26, it became known that part of the staff of the Presidential Guard of Niger opposed the head of state Mohamed Bazum, who was removed from power. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Niger supported the fighters who staged a mutiny.

Army General Abdurakhman Tchiani was announced as the new leader of the country. In a televised address to the population, he said that the military had taken power into their own hands because of a number of accumulated problems in the country, including economic ones, as well as corruption and insecurity.

ECOWAS, the European Union, France and a number of other states condemned the military coup and demanded Bazum's release and reinstatement as president.