Niger coup: US holds 'difficult' talks with military leaders

A senior US official has held face-to-face talks with Niger's military leaders following last month's coup.

Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said the conversations had been "extremely frank and at times quite difficult".

Washington has said the coup can still be ended diplomatically and President Mohamed Bazoum reinstated, but has suspended aid payments in the meantime.

Ecowas - a trading bloc of 15 West African states - had issued a 23:00 GMT Sunday deadline to Niger's junta leaders to stand down and restore the elected president.