Foreign nationals lined up outside an airport in the capital of Niger this morning, Wednesday, waiting for a third evacuation flight, while a regional bloc continued talks on its response to the coup that occurred last week.

French forces in the capital, Niamey, evacuated hundreds, mostly French citizens, to Paris on two flights on Tuesday, amid fears that its citizens and other Europeans faced the risk of being caught up in last week's military coup, which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and detained him.

France, Italy, and Spain announced evacuation operations for their citizens and other Europeans. The United States has not yet announced evacuation plans, but some have left the country with the help of Europeans.

An Italian military plane landed in Rome today with 99 passengers on board, including 21 Americans and civilians from other countries, according to the Italian defense minister. The French foreign ministry stated that the first two French flights that landed in Paris last night carried 12 children among the 262 people, most of whom were French, but included individuals evacuated from Niger, Portugal, Belgium, Ethiopia, and Lebanon.

Before sunrise on Wednesday, hundreds of people lined up outside the Niamey airport terminal, hoping to leave after a third flight was canceled the night before. Some slept on the ground, while others watched video games or talked on the phone.

If the Economic Community of West African States "ECOWAS" intervenes, the citizens may attack nationals of the ECOWAS group here. They have already made threats.

ECOWAS stated on Sunday that it would use force against the military junta if it did not release the president and return him to office within a week, an announcement that was immediately rejected by neighboring Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, all run by rebel soldiers who ousted their governments.

The leaders of Mali and Burkina Faso said that military intervention in Niger "would be considered a declaration of war" against them.

Niger has been viewed as one of the last democracies in the region, and partnering Western nations could work with it to combat the jihadist violence that has devastated the area. The United States, France, and other European countries have pumped millions of dollars in military aid into the country.

On Tuesday, the United States stated that Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with President Bazoum and emphasized that the United States rejects efforts to overturn the constitutional order, standing with the people of Niger, ECOWAS, the African Union, and international partners in support of democratic governance, rule of law, and human rights.

The bloc stated in a statement that defense leaders of the 15 ECOWAS member states would meet in the Nigerian capital Abuja from Wednesday to Friday to discuss next steps in resolving the crisis.

At a virtual United Nations meeting on Tuesday evening, the UN special envoy for West Africa and the Sahel stated that other efforts beyond the threat of using force are underway to restore democracy in Niger.

Leonardo Santos Simão said, "One week can be more than enough if everyone speaks in good faith, and if everyone wants to avoid bloodshed. However, he added that "the various member states are preparing themselves to use force if necessary."

A Western diplomat in Niamey, who requested anonymity for security reasons, stated that ECOWAS is determined to use military force after economic sanctions and travel bans failed to quell other coups.

Niamey calmed down after pro-junta protests turned violent on Sunday when demonstrators attacked the French embassy and set fire to its door.

However, some say the mood remains tense. During evacuation flights on Tuesday at the airport, a passenger who requested anonymity for security reasons stated that the Nigerien army, which was accompanying an Italian military convoy to the airport, sped away with soldiers raising their middle fingers at the passengers.

On the same night, the March 62 movement, an activist group that organized pro-Russia and anti-France protests, called on residents in Niamey to mobilize and close the airport until foreign military forces leave the country.

Mahaman Sani, the national coordinator of the group, stated in a statement that "any evacuation of Europeans must be conditional on the immediate departure of foreign military forces."