lennart
08-06-03, 15:07
Mauritania president 'forced out'
Reports from the west African state of Mauritania say President Maaouiya Ould Taya has been forced from his palace by rebels and has taken refuge in the French embassy in the capital, Nouakchott.
A BBC correspondent in Mauritania says government ministries have been taken over by crowds of civilians, and that the mutineers have retaken the radio station.
It appears that the rebels entered the palace and radio station for a second time on Sunday, after having been repelled earlier.
There have been conflicting reports from the capital, with the authorities claiming that an attempted coup had been foiled and other reports suggesting fighting was continuing.
Our correspondent, Sidi al-Mokhtar Cheiger, says the rebels are expected to broadcast a statement shortly.
'90% over'
Smoke has been seen rising from the presidential palace, thought to have been taken by the insurgents, but battles with forces loyal to the president are said to be continuing in the area.
There is also said to be widespread looting which police are doing their best to control.
Our correspondent says there are unconfirmed reports the army chief-of-staff was killed in fighting earlier on Sunday.
He said the regime was believed to be "90% over".
One resident of the city spoke to the Associated Press by telephone.
"I have decided to lock everyone inside, all members of my family, because we are too scared to go out," the man said, too afraid to give his name.
"We are hearing gunshots at this very moment."
Tank and small arms fire was first heard in the early hours of Sunday around the presidential building and at the airport near the capital, Nouakchott.
Sources close to the president initially said the coup had been put down, but several correspondents reported that the fighting was continuing.
Iraq tensions
Several reports suggest units in the military and air force are involved in the insurgency. Anti-aircraft artillery was fired on at least one plane that flew over Nouakchott earlier on Sunday.
Though officially an Islamic republic, Mauritanian authorities have cracked down on suspected Islamists and politicians with links to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein since the beginning of war in Iraq.
Dozens of people have been detained and charged with plotting against the state.
Mauritania's strongly Muslim population are largely opposed to its close ties with Israel, say correspondents.
It is one of only three states in the Arab League to hold full diplomatic relations with Israel.
President Taya himself came to power in a military coup in 1984.
Technically, Mauritania has had a multi-party system since 1991.
But the ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party has remained in control, and the opposition boycotted the last presidential election in 1997.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2972550.stm
Power to the people! Bovendien een voorbode van wat er komen gaat in heel Noord-Afrika. Ik denk dat de Amerikanen wel blij zullen zijn dat weer een dictator is verjaagd, dit maal door de Islamisten.
Reports from the west African state of Mauritania say President Maaouiya Ould Taya has been forced from his palace by rebels and has taken refuge in the French embassy in the capital, Nouakchott.
A BBC correspondent in Mauritania says government ministries have been taken over by crowds of civilians, and that the mutineers have retaken the radio station.
It appears that the rebels entered the palace and radio station for a second time on Sunday, after having been repelled earlier.
There have been conflicting reports from the capital, with the authorities claiming that an attempted coup had been foiled and other reports suggesting fighting was continuing.
Our correspondent, Sidi al-Mokhtar Cheiger, says the rebels are expected to broadcast a statement shortly.
'90% over'
Smoke has been seen rising from the presidential palace, thought to have been taken by the insurgents, but battles with forces loyal to the president are said to be continuing in the area.
There is also said to be widespread looting which police are doing their best to control.
Our correspondent says there are unconfirmed reports the army chief-of-staff was killed in fighting earlier on Sunday.
He said the regime was believed to be "90% over".
One resident of the city spoke to the Associated Press by telephone.
"I have decided to lock everyone inside, all members of my family, because we are too scared to go out," the man said, too afraid to give his name.
"We are hearing gunshots at this very moment."
Tank and small arms fire was first heard in the early hours of Sunday around the presidential building and at the airport near the capital, Nouakchott.
Sources close to the president initially said the coup had been put down, but several correspondents reported that the fighting was continuing.
Iraq tensions
Several reports suggest units in the military and air force are involved in the insurgency. Anti-aircraft artillery was fired on at least one plane that flew over Nouakchott earlier on Sunday.
Though officially an Islamic republic, Mauritanian authorities have cracked down on suspected Islamists and politicians with links to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein since the beginning of war in Iraq.
Dozens of people have been detained and charged with plotting against the state.
Mauritania's strongly Muslim population are largely opposed to its close ties with Israel, say correspondents.
It is one of only three states in the Arab League to hold full diplomatic relations with Israel.
President Taya himself came to power in a military coup in 1984.
Technically, Mauritania has had a multi-party system since 1991.
But the ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party has remained in control, and the opposition boycotted the last presidential election in 1997.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2972550.stm
Power to the people! Bovendien een voorbode van wat er komen gaat in heel Noord-Afrika. Ik denk dat de Amerikanen wel blij zullen zijn dat weer een dictator is verjaagd, dit maal door de Islamisten.