CNews NOUAKCHOTT: Troops staged a coup in the West African nation of Mauritania on Wednesday, arresting the President and Prime Minister and shutting down state radio and television, security sources said.Troops moved through the capital and detained President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf after the President named a new head of the army, security sources and witnesses said.They chased staff away from the state broadcaster and surrounded the Presidency though there was no sign of fighting.The President's whereabouts were unknown, while the Prime Minister had been taken to an army barracks near the Presidency, security sources said.The capital of the nation of 3.1 million people was reported to be calm, with little evidence of the turmoil, witnesses said, though troops had surrounded the Presidency and the state broadcaster.Mauritania has been facing a political crisis and on Monday 48 MPs walked out on the ruling party less than two weeks after a vote of no confidence in the government prompted a cabinet reshuffle.The coup was apparently triggered when Abdallahi moved to replace generals accused of stirring up the political crisis.
CNews NOUAKCHOTT: Troops staged a coup in the West African nation of Mauritania on Wednesday, arresting the President and Prime Minister and shutting down state radio and television, security sources said.Troops moved through the capital and detained President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf after the President named a new head of the army, security sources and witnesses said.They chased staff away from the state broadcaster and surrounded the Presidency though there was no sign of fighting.The President's whereabouts were unknown, while the Prime Minister had been taken to an army barracks near the Presidency, security sources said.The capital of the nation of 3.1 million people was reported to be calm, with little evidence of the turmoil, witnesses said, though troops had surrounded the Presidency and the state broadcaster.Mauritania has been facing a political crisis and on Monday 48 MPs walked out on the ruling party less than two weeks after a vote of no confidence in the government prompted a cabinet reshuffle.The coup was apparently triggered when Abdallahi moved to replace generals accused of stirring up the political crisis.
