NIAMEY, (Reuters) – Millions of people are threatened  by famine in Niger, the new military ruler said yesterday in a  message that contrasted starkly with his predecessor’s  reluctance to talk about food shortages.

Major Salou Djibo, who ousted President Mamadou Tandja in a  coup on Feb. 18, also said the junta was committed to tackling  impunity, corruption and the abuse of power during an  unspecified transitional period before promised elections.

The coup, as well as subsequent promises to clear up Niger’s  politics and business, have been well received in the West  African nation.

But the international community, which criticised the coup,  fears that a return to civilian rule could be delayed by an  open-ended attempt to attack corruption.

The coup took place as aid agencies and the government were  bracing for food shortages and acute malnutrition after poor  rains last year. Niger suffered similar problems in 2005 but  Tandja’s government delayed publicly calling for help.

Addressing the nation on state television yesterday, Djibo  said all means were urgently being deployed to tackle the  famine, which “threatens the existence of millions of Nigeriens  in virtually all regions”.

Although the largely desert nation is better prepared to  tackle the crisis than it was in 2005, aid workers say that it  was difficult to talk openly about food shortages under Tandja  because the issue was so sensitive.

Privately many hope that this will now change, though few  have gone so far as to say Niger may suffer a famine.

An official report leaked to a Nigerien newspaper in January  said about 7.8 million of the population of 15 million would  face food insecurity this year, contradicting public assurances  made by the then government.

Djibo again vowed to restore democracy. But he gave no date  for the elections — something that many in the international  community want to see before restoring aid that was cut off when  Tandja extended his rule last year.