afrol News, 10 July - The newly appointed Mauritanian Prime Minister has ruled out the inclusion of selected opposition parties in his new cabinet line-up.

Yayha Ould Ahmed El Waghf, who had recently lost the parliament's confidence, learnt bitter lessons for giving excessive powers to the minority parties. A no-confidence motion against his government has to do with his inclusion of political kingpins associated with the former President Maaouya Ould Taya in the government.

Taya, who ruled Mauritania for more than 20 years, was overthrown in a military coup in August 2005.

After talks with parties in the majority, the Prime Minister did not mince his words to elbow out the Union des Forces du Progrès (UFP) and Tawassul [a moderate Islamic party] from the cabinet.

UFP is a radical branch of the opposition Mauritania National Movement under regime of Ould Daddah.

Mr El Waghf's former government, which had resigned, has six opposition ministers, but he no longer see the need to give too much room to the opposition, especially at the expensive of the government. Re-appointed by President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi to still lead the government, El Waghf's next step is to name a new cabinet.

Already, leaders of the elbowed opposition parties accused the new Premier of condoning "bad democratic practices." Mr. Waghef was first appointed Premier in May after Zeine Ould Zeidane had tendered a sudden resignation.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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