The military council in Niger has requested the head of the United Nations diplomatic mission to leave the country within 72 hours, according to a memo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The memo dated October 10 accuses the United Nations of resorting to "malicious maneuvers" instigated by France to prevent the full participation of Niger in the United Nations General Assembly last month and other international meetings.

The military council, which took power in Niger after the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum last July, has also expelled French forces and the French ambassador, Sylvain Ité.

The first contingent of French soldiers deployed in Niger has begun to leave the country for Chad in a land convoy under the protection of a local force, as part of a withdrawal mandated by the ruling military group after the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum at the end of last July. Meanwhile, Washington officially deemed the military takeover in the country a "coup" on Tuesday.

About 1,400 French soldiers and pilots had been deployed in Niger to fight against extremist groups alongside the Nigeriens, including around a thousand in Niamey and 400 at two advanced bases in the west of the country in Wali and Tabari-Bari, in the heart of an area known as the "three borders" with Mali and Burkina Faso.