Abdallahi won't work with junta

2008-12-23 09:29

Nouakchott - Mauritania's ousted president Sidi Ould Sheikh Abdallahi said on Monday he would not cooperate with the military junta that forced him from power, a day after it released him from house arrest.

"I have nothing to share with these people," he told AFP by telephone, adding that he would not take part in consultations on Mauritania's future organised by the junta this week, and would instead work to oust the junta.

"I have come to work in the interests of my country, I did it when it was possible to do so. I will continue to do it to bring down the putsch," said Abdallahi, speaking from his native village of Lemden, 250km east of Nouakchott.

"I have absolutely no interest in the days of consultation promoted by the military, nor with the elections that they are organising," he said.

Abdallahi reiterated that the only way out of the crisis would be for the country's military rulers to be removed from power.

"Once these soldiers have left power, I will be ready to negotiate, to do my utmost to find the best path to an accord among Mauritanians to put this country back on track for political development and democracy," he said.

Election

Earlier this month, the country's prime minister announced that meetings to set a date for a presidential election would be held starting December 27.

Elected in March 2007 after 30 years of military rule, Abdallahi was ousted in the August 6 coup, hours after he issued a decree firing the military's top brass. Among those he wanted to axe was coup leader General Ould Abdel Aziz.

Aziz bowed to international pressure and released Abdallahi Sunday ahead of the December 27 meeting.

Abdallahi said he would return to Nouakchott in a few days to continue his "battle" within legal norms and the scope in which he was allowed to manoeuvre.

For the moment, he said, no specific restrictions had been placed on his movements and activities except "that I should not do anything that could disturb public order."

But Abdallahi criticised what he described as a "massive presence of security forces" in his village and that he had been transferred against his will to the capital where his release was announced early on Sunday.

Move hailed

World leaders including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have hailed the junta's decision to free Abdallahi.

Ban also reiterated his call for "the prompt restoration of constitutional order in Mauritania in the interests of peace and respect for the rule of law in the country," his spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, AU ministers meeting in the Ethiopian capital Monday reiterated a threat to impose sanctions on the junta despite Abdallahi's release.

Foreign ministers meeting in the AU's peace and security council in Addis Ababa said the freeing of Abdallahi "could help find a solution to the crisis".

However, it said the president's release had only come about as a result of international pressure and was only a "partial response" to the AU's demands.

Zambian Foreign Minister Kabinga Panda, who chaired the meeting, warned that if constitutional order was not restored by February 5, six months on from the coup, the AU could "impose sanctions against all members of the junta".

The sanctions would involve visa and travel restrictions, and the freezing of financial assets.

The European Union has also threatened the junta with sanctions, joining the United States in calling for Abdallahi's reinstatement and a swift return to constitutiona

- AFP