THE “National Reconciliation Council”, Niger’s ruling military body, on Wednesday adopted a draft constitution for the Fifth Republic. It states that Niger will in future be ruled by “a president elected under universal suffrage who will be politically responsible except in cases of high treason.” The president will appoint the prime minister, cabinet ministers and other high ranking civilian and military officials. He will have the power to dissolve the national assembly and assume exceptional powers in case the state is threatened and convene the Council of the Republic when a constitutional crises erupts. The constitution says the prime minister will be the head of government and is answerable to the national assembly, which can unseat him with a vote of no confidence.