The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it will hold a new summit on Thursday to discuss the situation in Niger after the military council ignored a deadline it had set for it to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power, while coup leaders in Niamey declared their challenge to the African group and warned it against any military adventure.

An ECOWAS spokesman said the second summit of its kind in less than two weeks would be held in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

Also at the previous summit, held on July 30 in Abuja, the 15-nation African group gave the putschists a week to reinstate Bazoum and imposed sanctions on the new regime in Niamey.

However, the deadline expired on Sunday evening with no signs of imminent military intervention by ECOWAS to end the coup in Niger, the seventh in three years.

Members of the group, including Nigeria and Senegal, have expressed their willingness to send troops to Niger, but two of the members, Mali and Burkina Faso, which are led by military personnel, have rejected the option of force and decided to send a joint delegation to Niamey to express solidarity with Niger's new rulers.

Niger's non-ECOWAS neighbors, led by Algeria, have also rejected the threat of military intervention.

More time

The Wall Street Journal quoted a senior official from an ECOWAS country that the armies of the region need more time to prepare and strengthen the strength of military units before entering Niger, stressing that this military action depends on good preparation.

The senior official stressed that the group will continue to pressure the military council in Niamey with economic and financial sanctions, and will seek support for the trade embargo from other bodies, such as the African Union.

In this context, the President of Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, announced his country's support for all initiatives taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore constitutional order in Niger.

Military leaders unite

However, as the ECOWAS deadline expired yesterday evening, Niger's coup leaders defied the group's threat and seemed determined not to back down.

The military spokesman of Niger's so-called National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland, Amadou Abderrahmane, announced the closure of the country's airspace until further notice, citing the African Group's threat of military intervention.

Abderrahmane warned of the consequences of what he described as any military adventure or interference by ECOWAS in the affairs of his country, and said that a foreign superpower was preparing to attack Niger, and it was not clear whether the military spokesman was alluding to France, which has about 1500,<> troops at the base in Niamey.

The National Council for the Protection of the Homeland, led by General Omar Abdul Rahman Tiani, said preparations for war had already begun in two central countries.

A number of council members participated on Sunday in a rally at a sports stadium in Niamey, and stressed that they will not back down from their decisions, and will work to achieve the demands of the people.

A member of the ruling military council also announced on national television that Niger's armed forces were ready to defend the country's territorial integrity.

A military source in Niamey told Al Jazeera that the army would not back down from its steps to suspend the constitution and oust President Mohamed Bazoum.

International Positions

As the military intervention expired yesterday evening, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to extend the deadline given to coup leaders.

In an interview, Tayanne said diplomacy remained the only way forward in resolving Niger's political crisis.

France has raised its warnings to its remaining citizens in Niger and called on them to exercise the utmost caution.

France had evacuated most of its citizens from Niger, but the evacuation did not include troops stationed at the Niamey base.

Meanwhile, Air France announced the suspension of flights to Mali and Burkina Faso until next Friday, and the suspension of all aid to Ouagadougou until further notice, in response to the two countries' announcement of their support for the leaders of the coup in Niger.

For its part, the German Foreign Ministry said that imposing sanctions on Niger remains an option in response to the coup.

In other European positions, the EU announced the cessation of its financial support and security cooperation with Niger.