12/08/2008
In the wake of Mauritania's post-coup political instability, al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb is calling for a holy war and Islamic rule, Reuters reported on Tuesday (August 12th).
Abdelmalek Droukdel, leader of al-Qaeda's North African branch, posted a statement on the internet saying, "Raise the banner of jihad and let us bleed and have our limbs severed until we bring back a caliphate styled along the lines of the Prophet's way," Reuters reported.
On Sunday, Mauritania's new leader General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz expressed his determination to crack down on terrorist activity. When asked about his plan for dealing with al-Qaeda, Abdel Aziz was quoted by Reuters as saying, "We will do what we did in the past ... we fought with positive results. Whenever we find them, we will arrest them and bring them to justice."
In other news, Mauritania's new ruling council released former Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef Monday (August 11th) in Nouakchott, where he had been held since President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi was overthrown in a military coup last Wednesday, local and international press reported. Former Interior Minister Mohamed Ould Rzeizi, National Agency for Refugees Director Moussa Fall and ruling PNDD party vice-president Ahmed Ould Sidi Baba were also freed by the newly-formed "High State Council." Immediately after his release, El Waghef led a rally attended by about one thousand supporters of the former president.
President Abdellahi remains detained, Mauritanian news agency ANI reported. He is reportedly being held in a villa on the grounds of the Nouakchott congress centre, AFP said.
Representatives from the Arab League, the EU, the African Union, the UN and ambassadors from France, Germany, Spain, the UN, and the United States have met with coup leader and High Council chief General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. On Monday, the French government demanded Abdellahi's release and said it would freeze development aid. Washington has also suspended non-humanitarian funding.
Also Monday, the director of the Mauritanian Information Agency (AMI) was dismissed.