EU congratulates winner of Niger presidential poll

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union on Tuesday congratulated Niger's opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou for his presidential election victory, hailing it as a major achievement on the road back to democracy.

"This election marks a milestone in the process of transition to democracy and a major step towards the restoration of full cooperation between Niger and the European Union," said EU chief diplomat Catherine Ashton and development commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

The EU suspended aid for development and cooperaton in 2009 after a crisis triggered by then president Mamadou Tandja's bid to hold onto office after the end of his mandate.

The sanctions were extended after the army ousted Tandja in a coup in February 2010.

Ashton and Piebalgs welcomed "the great sense of responsibility shown by the Nigerien electorate who have gone to the polls peacefully to vote" in Sunday's runoff following a year-long military junta.

In a joint statement, they also said they "wish to congratulate Issoufou "who, according to preliminary results from the Electoral Commission, is the clear winner of the election."

The 59-year-old leader of the Social Democratic Party was declared victor of the presidential vote on Monday with 58 percent of the ballots, defeating former prime minister Seini Oumarou.

The election in the vast desert nation, marked by a history of coups and poverty despite its huge uranium reserves, was aimed at returning democracy following Tandja's ouster.