Mauritania: Saleh Hanina admit coupe attempt of Weld Taye'

The master mind of three coupe attempts in Mauritania in June 2003, August and September 2004, officer Saleh Weld Hanina, admitted his involvement in these attempts while he was before the criminal court in Wad al-Naqa to the east of Nouakchott yesterday.

Weld Hanina said replying to a question addressed by the chairman of the court Muhammad al-Hadi Weld Muhammad "I wanted to change the corrupted regime and the illegal one by this coupe, the same as ( President Mu'aweya Weld al-Taye) did on December 12, 1984." He considered that these attempts are "legal" and are "justified by the deteriorated economic, social and political situation which is leading the country to a catastrophe."

But he refused the accusations addressed to him of "carrying weapons against his country or leading a rebel movement." He also denied accusations of receiving financial support from Libya and Burkina Faso. But he admitted he had visited several times and by false documents Waghdado and Mali.