Nearly a quarter of Niger voters barred from February polls

Supporters of presidential candidate Hama Amadou shout slogans outside the court of appeals building after Amadou's appeal for bail was rejected in Niamey, Niger, January 11, 2016. REUTERS/Tagaza Djibo

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Nearly a quarter of voters in Niger - 1.5 million people - will be barred from casting their ballots in next month's presidential poll, the government said, after politicians failed to agree on a system to register them.

Tensions were already running high in the unstable West African state which is a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants across the Sahel region.