afrol News, 6 October - 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.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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