The leaders of the coup in Niger formed a new government, according to General Abdrahmane Tiani.

The government, which was formed coinciding with the "ECOWAS" summit of the Economic Community of West African States today Thursday in Abuja, consists of 21 members and is led by the Prime Minister who was previously appointed by the military council on Monday, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine.

The Ministers of Defense and Interior are military personnel - Salifou Modji and Mohamed Toumba from the military council.

ECOWAS leaders are holding a summit today Thursday in the Nigerian capital to discuss the Niger crisis following the coup. The regional organization warned on Tuesday that it would make "important decisions" during the summit, announcing a preference for diplomacy in seeking a peaceful settlement without ruling out military intervention.