Mauritania government issues the first statement over the coupe attempt; News on releasing senior detainees, detaining others

Sources in the ruling party in Nouakchott said yesterday that the coupe attempt which the authorities said it had foiled on Monday, was targeting the assassination of President Mu'aweya Weld al- Taye upon leaving the country to France on Saturday, at a time when number of detained persons reached 30.

The sources said that the planners for the coupe planned for killing the President on Saturday at the airport in Nouakchott while leaving for France to take part in the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Normandy landing, which will be attended by forces from former French colonies. News reports in Nouakchott said that some officers who were arrested on Tuesday in the context of what was called by the authorities in Mauritania "foiling the attempt to topple the regime in the country."

News reports quoted well-informed sources that among the released is col. Misqaro Wild Aqweizi and Col. Muhammad Weld Baba Ahmad, a matter which enhances what was predicted by certain analysts that the detention operations came in the course of " revenge and liquidation acts inside the military establishment." Other sources said that acts of detention are still continuous until last hours and that investigations with the detainees are also on. The sources said that among the detained officers are Seidi Weld Safi, Sheikh Weld Hadi, Ahmad Weld Ahmad and Taleb Weld Seidi Elamine.

The military barracks are also still witnessing a state of unrest. Their soldiers and officers are not permitted to leave out. An alert was announced suddenly yesterday at dawn and since then the army officers did not return back home.