Niger's opposition is demanding therelease of all imprisoned political activists ahead of the trial of an opponentof the new constitution scheduled for Friday.
Marou Amadou was arrestedby Niger's secrete service shortly after he was released by a judge.
He isaccused of disturbing public peace after he called on Nigeriens to resistcontroversial constitutional amendment extending President Mamadou Tandja'srule for three additional years.
The move has generated both local andinternational condemnation.
So far, thegovernment has released a number of opposition activists, but kept in jailthose it describes as undermining the country's peace.
, alegislator in Niger's dissolved parliament said that President Tandja has turned into a dictator.
"Weare demanding the release of all the political prisoners because really we haveto fight for the law and regulation in our country because now it is becoming ajungle where there is no regulation,"
that the people want him to remain in office.
ECOWAS has been engaged in efforts to get Tandja's government toabide by Niger's constitution and the sub-regional body's Additional Protocolon Democracy and Good Governance.