World leaders condemn Mauritania coup

  1. Posted on Friday 8 August 2008 - 15:59
    Murtala
    Image of Murtala
    Murtala Mohamed Kamara - AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
    The United States, the African Union and Nigeria's President Umaru Yar'Adua (photo) have condemned this weeks military coup in Mauritania. The strike was was led by General Mohamed Ould Abdelazeez, the head of the Presidential Guard Unit who is also heading the country's newly formed 'State Council'.
    President Umaru YarAdua
    Wednesdays coup followed a decision by the president to sack senior members of the army. Earlier report indicated that the president was seized including other senior government officials after the successful overthrown. The US through its State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said ‘’ This was a democratically elected, constitutional government and we therefore condemn the act’’. Similarly, President Yar’ Adua said his country and the African Union will not recognize the military government.

    President Yar’Ardua said yesterday that "Nigeria totally condemns the situation that took place in Mauritania this morning. Nigeria will not recognize and support any government that comes into being through unconstitutional means."

    The African Union (AU) pact has made it clear that AU will not recognize any government that didn't come into being through constitutional means. "Democracy and the sustenance of democracy are vital. We cannot afford turning back the hand of the clock anywhere in the sub-region."

    The United Nations Secretary General Banki- Moon has called for the immediate ‘restoration of order’ whiles the European Union described the actions of the military as an endangered to the country’s democracratic advances in recent times.

    Meanwhile, the head of the newly formed ‘State Council’ General Mohamed Ould Abdelazeez has promised to hold free and fair elections any time soon.

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