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Mauritanian coup leader
ready to free president: AU |
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 ADDIS
ABABA(September 1,2008) --
The African Union (AU) has received a "commitment" from
the leader of a military coup in Mauritania to free the country's
president, according to a statement received Saturday.
AU Commission chief Jean Ping issued his communique following August
25-26 talks in Nouakchott aimed at solving the political crisis caused
by the August 6 coup.
The AU "notes the commitment made by General Mohamed Ould Abdel
Aziz to Chairperson Ping concerning the release of President Sidi
Ould Cheikh Abdallahi," it said.
After ousting Mauritania's first democratically-elected president,
the junta leader formed a state council comprised of 11 military officials
and promised to hold elections quickly.
While it has been almost universally condemned by the international
community, two-thirds of Mauritania's deputies and senators have supported
the coup.
The AU -- which suspended Mauritania from the bloc following the coup
-- said it was prepared to participate in further talks in the northwest
African nation.
"In the meantime, the Commission urges all concerned Mauritanian
authorities to refrain from taking any institutional and legislative
action likely to increase the complexity of the situation," said
the AU.
The overthrown president is under house arrest at a villa in Nouakchott,
while the ousted prime minister, Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf, was re-arrested
on August 22 and was to be placed under house arrest in his home village.
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