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Mauritanian Premier resigns

NOUAKCHOTT (MAURITANIA): Mauritania's Prime Minister resigned along with his Cabinet on Sunday, setting the stage for the desert nation's new military strongman to choose a new government after last week's coup. A judge freed 21 persons who had been detained for plotting against the ousted regime. Prime Minister Sghair Ould M'Bareck presented the resignations to coup leader Ely Ould Mohamed Vall at the presidential palace. The two met for about 15 minutes, and Mr. M'Bareck did not elaborate when he spoke briefly to reporters who witnessed the event. Cabinet Ministers had not shown up for work since Wednesday's surprise coup toppled longtime President Maaoya Sid'Ahmed Ould Taya, who is currently in exile in nearby Niger. On Saturday, Mr. Vall met with the heads of more than 30 political parties in the capital and pledged that elections would take place in less than two years. He also assured politicians that no member of his 17-man junta would stand in the vote, said Ahmed Ould Daddah, a top politician who heads the Opposition Rally of Democratic Forces. The coup has been welcomed by many in Mauritania. Mr. Taya had stringently controlled the Islamic country since taking power in a coup himself in 1984. — AP

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