Niger to hold constitutional referendum on Aug 4

NIAMEY, June 5 (Reuters) - Niger will hold a referendum on its constitution on Aug. 4, state television said on Friday, confirming President Mamadou Tandja's plans to shrug off criticism of his bid to extend his rule of the uranium-exporter.

Tandja is due to stand down when his second term in power runs out later this year but the president wants voters to approve constitutional changes that would give him three more years in power and hand future presidents more authority. (Reporting by Abdoulaye Massalatchi; Writing by David Lewis)