Iran Press/ Africa: Niger's coup leaders have been urging France to withdraw 1,500 troops stationed there and have ordered the French ambassador to leave.
There has been speculation that France will be forced into a full military pullout from Niger after the July 26 putsch, which ousted French ally President Mohamed Bazoum.
Some 1,500 troops are deployed in Niger.
"Discussions on the withdrawal of certain military elements have begun," the defense ministry source told AFP, asking not to be named. The source did not give details.
Earlier, a source close to Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu told AFP that talks were in progress about "easing movements of French military resources" in Niger.
Relations between Niger and France, the country's former colonial power and traditional ally, went swiftly downhill after Paris stood by the elected Bazoum and declared the post-coup regime illegitimate.
On August 3, the coup leaders renounced several military cooperation agreements with France, including one with a month-long notice period that expired on Sunday.
Niger's military-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine said Monday that "contacts" were underway about a "very swift" departure for Paris' troops.
The French forces are mostly based at an airfield near the capital, Niamey, which has recently been targeted by thousands of protesters calling on them to leave.
The coup has been seen as a new major blow to French influence in the region following military takeovers in Mali in 2020 and Burkina Faso in 2022.
Late last month, a coup also overthrew another French ally, Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose father Omar held power for over four decades.
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