Wanke in French radio interview

In an interview with Radio France Internationale monitored by the BBC on Tuesday, Wanke said: "As you know, President Bare died at a time when Niger is passing through difficult times. It has economic and financial as well as political and social difficulties. Following consultations with the political parties and the civil society, the National Armed Forces have decided to stop this drift and assume their responsibility in order to put the country back on course." Asked to show "proof" that he would step down after nine months, he said: "I think that there is nobody in Niger who doubts our sincerity. If God permits, the NRC will do everything, and I repeat this, so that on 1 January 2000 the newly and democratically elected authorities can be installed." He hoped the international community would "judge us through what we will be doing".