Mauritania

African Union supports EU ultimatum to military junta

Article published on the 2008-10-21 Latest update 2008-10-21 11:43 TU

Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf.
(Source: http://www.mauritania.mr)

The African Union Commission President Jean Ping said on Tuesday that the group was "in harmony" with the European Union after the EU issued an ultimatum to Mauritania's military junta the day before.

Representatives of the ruling regime in Mauritania, including Prime Minister Mohamed Leghdaf Moulaye Ould, and delegates from EU member states met in Paris on Monday to discuss restoring constitutional order to the west African country.

The meeting was inconclusive, however, and the EU announced after Monday's meeting that "in the absence of new elements within a period of one month the consultations will end and appropriate measures will be proposed."

Mauritania's Foreign Minister Mohamed Ould Mohamedou told RFI on Monday "the former president would be released as soon as conditions are right. Civilian order and constitutional order we believe are perfectly in place."

This comes two weeks after an African Union ultimatum expired. It called for the reinstatement of ousted President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi who was removed from power in an 6 August coup.

Ping said the EU ultimatum had been expected and urged Mauritania's leaders to "take this opportunity."