Two months before elections, Islamists withdraw from largest opposition in Mauritania
Mauritania, Politics, 9/4/2003

More than 20 leaders of the Islamic wing of the coalition of the democratic forces, the largest opposition parties in Mauritania, submitted their collective resignation yesterday from the party which is headed by Ahmad Weld Dadah, the candidate for the Presidential elections which will be held on November this year.

In a statement, the 23 resigned members condemned the complete freezing of the activities of the party's commissions and the weakness of its efforts on major national issues.

The statement said that the party "did not take into account our advice and proposals on the question of nomination for the Presidential elections" which will be held on November 7th.

Among the resigned figures are the former Chairman of ( Arafat) municipality Muhammad Jamil Weld Mansour who recently got political asylum in Belgium and Khalil Weld Mawloud, the deputy chairman of the national council of the party and Weld Seidi Muhammad, chairman of the liaison committee in the party.

On the other hand, the US "Human Rights Watch" concerned in defense of human rights condemned the harassment caused by the Mauritanian government to leaders of the opposition, stressing that this threatens the opportunities of having free elections in the country.

The organization said that the security forces arrested since the beginning of April scores of opposition religious and political leaders and members of social movements in the framework of a campaign aiming at fighting the terrorist groups in Mauritania. In a message addressed to President of Mauritania Human rights Watch called for canceling laws which impose censorship on the mass media and permitting humanitarian organizations and human rights defense committees to work freely.

The organization expressed concern over the fate of detained officers in the failed coupe attempt which took place on June 8. The organization added "the inability to reach these officers raises questions on the way they are being treated due to the previous reports which were published on non- humanitarian conditions in Mauritania, calling for "addressing accusations to them and trying them quickly."

Previous Stories:
  Nouakchott gives provisional freedom for detained Islamists   (8/27/2003)
  Mauritania's authorities release prominent opposition figure   (8/26/2003)
  Wild Taye' nominates himself for a third term of office   (8/22/2003)

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