France already has more than 1000 troops in Niger fighting involved in counter-insurgency operations.  Photo: AP

The French military has denied allegations that it had asked Algeria for permission to fly over its airspace.

France never requested authorisation, so there was no refusal from the Algerian side, the French General Staff said in emailed replies to questions from Anadolu news agency on Wednesday.

The General Staff added that Algiers helped Paris with evacuation operations from Niger after the July 26 military coup.

Algiers "has helped Paris in an exemplary way to repatriate French nationals from Niger, by offering transit from Algiers," the General Staff explained.

"The French armed forces interact as usual with our Algerian partners," said the General Staff, denying allegations of tensions after developments in Niger, which borders Algeria, a one time French colony.

Earlier this week, Algerian public radio claimed that the country refused a request from France to fly over its airspace.

Paris has not voiced willingness to take part in a military operation in Niger following last month's coup.

But the French Foreign Ministry has repeatedly expressed support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has called up a standby force for possible military intervention.

Niger was plunged into turmoil on July 26 when Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, a former commander of the presidential guard, led a military intervention that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

France launched an operation to evacuate its citizens as well as other nationals from Niamey.

ECOWAS last week demanded that the military restore constitutional order in Niger “in order to concentrate on the security of the country, which has become increasingly fragile” since Bazoum was ousted.

France already has some 1,000-1,500 troops stationed in Niger, its former colony, where they have been involved in counterterrorism operations in recent years.

AA