This is the first time that officials have said how many foreign soldiers were deployed to help thwart the mutiny.

The coup was thwarted after Nigeria sent warplanes to dislodge the mutineers from the offices of state TV.

This is the first time that officials have said how many foreign soldiers were deployed to help thwart the mutiny.

According to several Beninese and Nigerien sources, the military authorities in Niamey were allegedly warned in advance of the attempted coup in Benin on December 7.