VOA标准英语10月-Mauritania Leaders Dismiss AU Deadline
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Leaders of the military coup1 that overthrew2 the elected president of Mauritania show no sign of meeting Monday's African Union deadline to relinquish3 power. On the eve of the deadline security forces dispersed5 pro-democracy demonstrators in Nouakchott as we hear from VOA's Scott Bobb in our West Africa Bureau in Dakar. |
| Policemen disperse4 protesters in a street of Nouakchott, 5 Oct. 2008 |
Authorities in Mauritania signaled a firm rejection6 of the African Union deadline as security forces in Nouakchott used clubs and tear gas Sunday to disperse several pro-democracy demonstrations7 in different parts of the capital.
The demonstrators from a coalition8 of 11 parties called the National Front for the Defense9 of Democracy chanted slogans against dictatorship.
Cheikh Brahim Nema told VOA reporter Sayid Ould Sayid that the authorities are persecuting10 the people and urged the international community to support freedom and democracy.
The demonstrators called on the head of the military junta11, Mohamad Ould Abdel Aziz, to reinstate ousted12 President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi, who has been under house arrest since a coup d'etat two months ago.
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| Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi (file) |
The African Union has called on the junta to restore Cheikh Abdellahi to power by Monday or face increased isolation13 and possible sanctions. The AU has already suspended Mauritania's membership in the pan-African group.
However, senior government officials dismissed the call as not constructive14 and not realistic.
Journalist Salem Majbour, with Africa Numero Un radio, noted15 that the Mauritanian government previously16 had allowed such demonstrations but banned Sunday's gathering17 citing security reasons. He says this signals the beginning of a long stand-off between the government and its opponents and a hardening of positions by both sides.
Cheikh Abdallahi last year became the first elected Mauritanian president in decades in a country where political change historically has come primarily through military coups18.
But he was overthrown19 in August after trying to dismiss several members of the military high command, including General Abdel Aziz. The junta leaders accused the deposed20 president of corruption21 and of being soft on terrorism.
They have pledged to hold national elections next year, but pro-democracy groups say these will not be democratic.
