Police officers have arrested several people including high-ranking soldiers in Sierra Leone, suspected to be planning violent attacks on citizens.

At least 20 people were killed and 19 were missing after heavy rains lashed Beijing and surrounding provinces, state media said Tuesday, in downpours that have submerged roads and deluged neighbourhoods with mud.

The United States has sanctioned 20 citizens of the Maldives for their ties to the Islamic State group, including one man accused of trying to assassinate former president Mohamed Nasheed.

France prepared to evacuate French and other European citizens from Niger on Tuesday, six days after a coup that toppled one of the last pro-Western leaders in the jihadist-plagued Sahel and stoked anti-French demonstrations.

The new military rulers of Niger, who took over the government in a coup last week, have detained at least l80 members of the ousted democratically elected administration, the previous ruling party said on Monday.