'Colonels' regime' in charge

2005-08-04 23:36

Nouakchott - The military council for justice and democracy, set up in Mauritania after troops ousted President Maaouyia Ould Taya on Wednesday, is a colonels' regime, with 16 members of that rank plus one naval commander, the equivalent of an army major.

It is headed by colonel Ely Ould Mohammed Vall, who as director of national security since 1987 under Ould Taya headed the northwest African country's police forces.

Military and family sources said he was aged in his mid-50s, and known for his calm and phlegmatic nature. He is an old comrade-in-arms of the ousted president, having supported the coup that brought him to power in 1984.

Military sources said he was well-respected in the various branches of the armed forces.

Members of the junta

Other members of the junta include colonel Abderrahmane Ould Boubacar, the army deputy chief of the general staff, and colonel Mohamed Abdel Aziz, head of presidential security.

Also named in the announcement of the new council were colonel Negri Felix, a senior staff officer, colonel Mohamed Ould Mohamed Znagui, head of Nouakchott's military district, and colonel Mohamed Ould Abdi, a former aide to Ould Taya.

A statement announcing the president's overthrow on Wednesday said: "The military and the security forces have unanimously decided to put an end to the totalitarian practices of the regime from which our people have suffered so much in the last years.

A ?dangerous? course

"These practices have set the country on a dangerous course. For this reason, the military and security forces have decided to put in place a military council for justice and democracy."

The coup leaders pledged to "establish favourable conditions for an open and transparent democratic system on which civil society and political players will be able to give their opinions freely".

"The military and security forces do not intend to hold power for longer than a period of two years, which is considered essential to prepare and establish true democratic institutions," the statement said.

Finally, the new ruling council pledged to respect all international treaties and conventions already ratified by Mauritania.

Ould Taya was ousted while he was absent from the country for the funeral of Saudi King Fahd in Riyadh. Sources in Niamey said he had been given refuge by Niger's President Mamadou Tandja.

- AFP