Anti-junta protest broken up in Mauritania
Thursday, 7 August 2008 17:38Mauritanian police have used tear gas to break up a rally in support of deposed President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.
One person was reportedly injured during the incident.
Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Dahmane, general secretary of Mr Abdallahi's party, said they wanted to organise a peaceful demonstration, and that protestors were only armed with slogans and portraits of the president.
He said the police stopped the demonsrators by firing tear gas.
The protest that was broken up was organised by four political parties, including Mr Abdallahi's party, who have united to form an anti-coup movement called the National Front for the Defence of Democracy.
The European Union called for the release of President Abdallahi, the country's first democratically elected leader, and his prime minister who were detained after the army takeover yesterday.
The Arab League and African Union each expressed concern and sent missions to Nouakchott.
