Protests in Mauritania for the families of persons accused in the coupe attempt

Hundreds of persons of the families of military men accused in 2003 of being involved in the attempt made to topple the regime in Mauritania protested over preventing them from visiting their relatives.

The spokeswoman for the families, Fatimah Bint Muhammad, said that the detained military men "were put in one cell and in non- humanitarian conditions and are forbidden from getting out of the cell." The Mauritania's spokeswoman added that the conditions of detention " have become worse with the approaching of the date of trying the convicted persons especially after they were taken to a barrack in the depth of the desert."

She demanded -- during a march of protest before the " justice palace" in Nouakchott -- the authorities to accelerate the trial measures in order to stop what it described " the insult " imposed on their relatives.

For its part, the Mauritania's authorities stressed it will ensure just trial for the military men who are involved in the coupe attempt. The authorities said that such conditions were ensured in previous trials.

A judicial source denied the trial of the convicted men in a military court, stressing that the trial which started before the ordinary judiciary will end before the same judiciary.

Worthy mentioning that a group of Mauritanian army officers -- descend from the eastern and central areas -- led by lt. Saleh Weld Hanana led on June 8, 2003 a failed coupe in Nouakchott, after which several officers were detained while Weld Hanana was able to escape.