- Mauritanian police fired tear gas to disperse anti-coup protesters in the capital Nouakchott demanding the unconditional release of the overthrown president.
The protest came ahead of the African Union defiance that former president Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi be released on Monday and restored to office, a demand ignored by the 11-member ruling military junta, ruling out the former president's chances of returning to power.
Mr. Abdallahi, the country's first democratically elected leader in over 40 years who has been under house arrest since his overthrow, is reported to be in good health. He is still being kept in a villa in Nouahchott.
The AU's annoyance over the 6th August coup resulted to the West African nation's membership, and even warned of further sanctions should the junta pays lip service to its demand.
But the AU's demand was rejected by the coup leader, describing it as "unconstructive." General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz's council wants to remain in power until fresh elections are held after 14 months.
Sunday's protest had defied the junta's ban on demonstrations. The junta believed it had given enough space and right to the citizens to demonstrate.
There has been mixed reaction to the coup, which erupted at a time the ousted regime was under fire over rampant corruption, bad governance and economic crisis.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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