afrol News, 23 October - Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade has rejected idea of putting sanctions on Mauritania's coup leaders, a move that has been criticised as breaking ranks with other African leaders.

European Union (EU) is said to have this week given Mauritania a one-month deadline, to bring back constitutional rule, while United States (US) last week imposed a travel ban on those who seized power from Mauritania's first democratically elected government in August.

President Wade reportedly said he preferred personal mediation to sanctions.

"They never touch leaders, a leader has all means at his disposal to evade them with his family. It's people who end up being sanctioned," he said.

Leader of the August coup, former presidential guard chief General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, this week rejected tough calls from African Union (AU) and EU for Abdallahi's return, saying there would be "no turning back".

Mr Aziz and other coup leaders accused Mr Abdallahi of blocking country's institutions and of failing to tackle economic and security challenges like high food and fuel prices and attacks by al Qaeda militants. Generals seized power after president ordered them sacked.

Media reports further show that coup is widely popular with members of National Assembly and Senate.

President Wade suggested this needed to be taken into account.

EU is due to continue talks with leaders who overthrew Mauritania's first democratically elected president, Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, pressuring them to release him from house arrest.

Non-humanitarian aid has already been suspended, while AU has also suspended Mauritania's membership shortly after coup and had threatened to impose further sanctions if Mr Abdallahi was not freed before 6 October.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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