Mauritania

Arab League, AU to mediate crisis in Nouackchott

Article published on the 2008-08-08 Latest update 2008-08-08 16:12 TU

Supporters carry a poster of coup leader Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz
(Photo: Reuters)

Arab League officials are in Mauritania today as part of international mediation efforts to resolve a crisis following a coup that brought the military to power last Wednesday. Mediators from the African Union will also arrive in the country this weekend. Both delegations will meet with the new military leader General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. who deposed President Sibi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in a bloodless coup.

He deposed President Sibi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in a bloodless coup.

Cheikh Abdallahi is still being held in custody, but the military have released other family members previously detained in the presidential palace.

Amal Mint Cheikh Abdallahi, daughter of the deposed president, spoke to RFI, saying that the other family members were free. "I don't know where [my father] is. I am worried about his health and safety," she said.

Nouackchott was reported to be calm today, a day after riot police used tear gas to break up a demonstration against the coup.