In a move to end the crisis created by the coup in Niger, neighbouring Algeria has proposed a six-month period of transition to civilian rule to be overseen by a non-military person, the Reuters news agency quotes Algeria's foreign minister as saying.

Ahmed Attaf said most countries that he had spoken to were against the use of force as a means to end the coup, Reuters reports.

The regional bloc Ecowas has condemned the coup, imposed sanctions on Niger and said that military action to restore democratic rule was an option.

There are no good wars and there is no bad peace, Mr Attaf is quoted as saying.

It is not clear if Algeria's plan was developed in conjunction with Niger's junta, but the military leadership had previously talked about a three-year transition - something that Ecowas rejected.