Thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets on Sunday in Niger's capital Niamey to demand that authorities respect civil liberties, following the arrest of several of their number last month. Demonstrators carried signs reading 'Down with Dictatorship' in criticism of the government of President Mahamadou Issoufou, elected in 2011 following a democratic transition after a military coup the previous year.
Organisers said some 15,000 to 20,000 people took part in the march, in the centre of the dusty riverside capital. Police put the figure at 3,500.
Political tensions have risen sharply in the former French colony ahead of elections next year.
Issoufou split acrimoniously with his ally Amadou Hama, the parliamentary speaker, in August and last month some 40 members of the opposition were arrested for alleged involvement in attacking the ruling party's headquarters and the home of a legislator.
After questioning by a judge, all but six of them were released. "There will not be any dismantling of our political parties nor underhand manoeuvres, nor threats and intimidation," Hama told the crowd. "The government in power will not break our unity."