afrol News, 28 October - Former Mauritanian minister Isselmou Ould Abdelkader, who was arrested for allegedly criticising country's military regime, was last Sunday charged with two counts of allegedly "lying" and "undermining morale of the army".

Media reports show that if found guilty of charges, Mr Abdelkader, who is now an independent could face five years in jail.

Reports further show that he also faces an additional two years for peddling falsehoods. Mr Abdelkader has since been sent to a civilian prison in Nouakchott.

Former minister in regime of deposed president Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was arrested on 21 October, following allegations he made that members of Presidential Security Unit (BASEP), who staged a 6 August coup were foreign mercenaries.

Mr Abdelkader reportedly made this comment on Mauritanian state television programme "Point Lumineaux".

Two of station's staff members, Sidi Ould Lemjad, host of programme, and Limam Cheikh Ould Ely, director of Mauritania TV, were reportedly dismissed on 9 October. In addition, Mr Cheikh Ould Ely is said to have been arrested and questioned by National Gendarmerie on 22 October.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has thus condemned these acts of repression of free speech in Mauritania and called on authorities to unconditionally release Mr Abdelkader as well as reinstate two dismissed staff members.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories