Niger's military rulers have said the first convoy of French troops will, on Tuesday, begin preparations to leave the Sahel country after the leaders of a coup ordered them out.

"Operations for the departure of the first convoy escorted by our defence and security forces will begin tomorrow," a statement read on state TV said on Monday.

The withdrawal of some 1,400 French troops had been demanded by Niger's ruling generals shortly after they seized power at the end of July.