France demands generals free jailed president

France is demanding that Mauritanian army generals free the president toppled in a military coup. In a statement, French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office warns those who carried out Wednesday's coup that unspecified "measures" could be in the offing. France is rejecting the coup leaders' plan to hold new presidential elections and is reiterating its "total condemnation" of the power grab in the African country. Sarkozy's statement Thursday also says France might work closely with African and European partners bring a return to "constitutional order." Toppled President Sidi Cheikh Ould Abdallahi was Mauritania's first freely elected president in more than two... [read full story]