Troops have staged a coup in the west African nation of Mauritania, arresting the president and prime minister and shutting down state radio and television.
President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf were placed under arrest after troops moved through the capital Nouakchott early today.
Mauritania has been facing a political crisis since Monday when 48 MPs walked out on the ruling party.
The move came less than two weeks after a vote of no confidence in the government prompted a cabinet reshuffle.
A spokesperson for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he ‘deeply regrets’ the military coup and has called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order.
