15/08/2008
Former Mauritanian ambassador to Belgium and the EU Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf was named prime minister Thursday (August 14th) by Mauritania's ruling military junta. Laghdaf reportedly supported both overthrown President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi and the main opposition party, the Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD). The move is largely seen by the international press as an attempt by the junta to strengthen its political positions in the country and to win approval by the international community, which has harshly criticised the coup. Reuters quoted a RFD deputy as saying that the party was promised five ministries in the new government.
On Thursday, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) called for the immediate release of ousted President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.