West African leaders to meet on Niger after junta defies deadline

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Summary Companies Junta ignores ECOWAS deadline to reinstate president Bloc has warned of possible military action Italy urges ECOWAS to extend deadline, stick to diplomacy Niger airspace closure causes disruption to flights NIAMEY, Aug 7 (Reuters) - West African leaders will discuss Niger on Thursday after the junta that seized power there on July 26 defied a deadline to reinstate the ousted president or face the threat of military intervention, a spokesman for the regional bloc said on Monday. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has sent military forces into troubled member states in the past, had...