Police in Niger have arrested Hama Amadou, a former prime minister of the West African nation, on corruption charges, reports said on Thursday.
Niger’s Parliament earlier in the week lifted Amadou’s parliamentary immunity so that he could be brought to trial.
Amadou is expected to appear in the High Court charged with embezzling more than $200-million.
The former premier, who was in power for seven years, denies any wrongdoing and says the charges are part of a smear campaign to stop him standing for president in 2009.
The BBC said that police used tear gas to disperse about 100 of Amadou’s supporters who had gathered to protest the arrest.
Amadou resigned as prime minister last year following a no-confidence vote over allegations he embezzled $9-million of European Union funds.
However, he remains in charge of the governing party. — Sapa-dpa