Mauritania: Nigeria, AU Condemn Coup

Posted to the web 7 August 2008 Paul Ohia And Damilola Oyedele Abuja Nigeria, United Nations (UN), Africa Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) have condemned yesterday's military coup in Mauritania. Renegade soldiers overthrew the first government to be freely elected in the West African country in more than 20 years. The junta spurned a call by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and the AU to revert to status quo ante. The Army officers detained President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waqef. Speaking while receiving the Chiefs of Defence Staff of member countries of the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) at the State House in Abuja yesterday, Yar'Adua said the coup plotters would not be accommodated in the committee of nations. Yar' Adua said the coupcould jeopardise the... [read full story]