17/08/2008
A group of 19 Mauritanian legislators--16 deputies and 3 senators—plans to start a movement to return democratically-elected president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi to power, AFP reported on Saturday (August 16th). "Our goal is to lead a democratic battle to re-establish the legality, the liberty and the return" of President Ould Cheikh Abdellahi, deputy Mohamed Moustapha Ould Bedredine is quoted as saying at a press conference in Nouakchott.
Elsewhere, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs Todd Moss met with junta leader General Mohamed Abdel Aziz on Friday (August 15th) to call for the immediate release of President Abdallahi and his restoration as the legitimate president of the country. "There is still time to reverse this coup," APA quoted Moss as saying.