20 officers held in Mauritanian, doubts in the story of the coupe
Mauritania, Politics, 8/10/2004

Sources in Mauritania stressed that more than 20 army officers in the army were detained, accused of planning for a military coupe and assassination of President Mu'aweya Weld Sidi Ahmad al-Taye.

However, news reports said according to information sneaked from the Mauritania opposition circles that what was announced was an attempt to liquidate differences inside the army.

The news reports said that the commander of the national guard Col. Einena Weld Abeih carried out detentions that targeted certain senior army officers who affiliate to the same tribes to which belong the fleeing leaders of the recent coupe attempt, who established an organization abroad under the name of " knights of the change." However, media sources said that among the main detainees are the army colonels Muhammad Elamin Weld al-Wa'er; Muhammad Weld Baba Ahmad, and Masqaro Weld al-Ghoweizi, who are the most prominent in the national guards.

Weld al-Wa'er had worked as a leading army figure in the eastern area on the border with Mali while Weld Baba worked as a commander for the guards troupe in Nouakchott and Weld al- Ghoweizi worked before as a leader in al-Barakenah estate in the downtown of the country.

Chief editor of Mauritania's daily al-Qalam, Mousa Weld Hamid, said that the preliminary information he has indicate that the detained army officers are accused of planning for the assassination of President of Mauritania Mu'aweya Weld Sidi Ahmad al-Taye while he was preparing to visit France.

Well-informed sources asked to by anonymous said that a state of alert was announced in the military units and all were prevented from leaving their military position and the absent were brought in.

However, news noted that certain persons accused in the coupe attempt took place on June 8 and 9, 2003 fled from their detention center in a military barrack in Wadi al-Naqa area ( 50 Km to the east of the capital). But opposition political sources in Nouakchott said that what was rumored on the fleeing of those persons is not correct.

The sources related a link between the detainees and leaders of the previous coupe attempt, noting the family links between Weld al-Ghoweizi and Saleh Weld Hanana who led this movement, also noted the kinship between Weld Baba Ahmad and Muhammad Weld Sheikhna, the leading figure in the said attempt.

The sources explained that among the detainees is a negro officer named Ba Abdul Rahman and most of the detainees are from Weld Hanana and Weld Sheikhna tribes, leaders of the coupe of June 2003.

Previous Stories:
  FM hails Morocco's good offices between Mauritania, Libya   (8/6/2004)
  Opposition criticizes performance of the government, parliament ministerial reshuffle in Mauritania covers 9 bags   (7/28/2004)
  Protests in Mauritania for the families of persons accused in the coupe attempt   (7/21/2004)

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