EU, Macron urge Niger junta to free ex-president

The European Union and French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday urged Niger's ruling junta to release ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, two years to the day the army detained him.

Bazoum has been held, along with his wife Hadiza, in a wing of the presidential palace and according to his lawyers has not left the building in that time.

The 27-member bloc said in a statement it welcomed the recent release of some political prisoners but "regretted" the continued detention of Bazoum, 65, and others.

"The EU calls again for the release of these people who are being held for political reasons," said the statement from Kaja Kallas, the bloc's top diplomat.

Macron also called for Bazoum's release, in a separate statement Saturday.