Mauritania's opposition agree to a unification framework

Mauritania's political parties decided on Sunday to found a unification framework for the opposition with the task of finding out an immediate work plan for it.

A statement issued in conclusion of three days of talks, attended by 8 opposition parties including two banned parties, said that a committee was formed including various formations in order to discuss their meeting points, and preparing the program before the beginning of the presidential elections to be held in January 2003.

Sources close to the meeting said that what is remarkable about that meeting is that rapprochement was maintained between the two main figures in the Mauritania opposition, namely Ahmad Weld Dada and Masoud Wild Bulkheir.

The founding parties for this opposing federation are the coalition of the democratic forces; the progressive people's coalition, the coalition for justice and democracy; the party for legitimacy and fairness and justice; the socialist, democratic and unionist party, the people's front and the conference for the change and the national al-Nahda party. The two latter parties are banned.