Leaders of a military coup in Mauritania said they would hold "free and transparent" presidential elections "in the shortest time possible", according to a statement released today.
Presidential guard chief Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz set up an 11-strong council to rule the northwest African Islamic republic yesterday after he ousted Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, Mauritania's first freely elected president.
The coup drew international condemnation and widespread demands for Mr Abdallahi's return to power, but many local politicians threw their weight behind the coup and planned a march on Thursday in support of the junta.
"The High State Council . . . will supervise, in coordination with the institutions, political class and civil society, the organisation of presidential elections to renew the democratic process on a sustainable basis," the junta said in a statement published by national news agency AMI.
"These elections, which will be organised in as short a time as possible, will be free and transparent," it said.
The council also pledged to respect treaties and other international commitments binding Mauritania, Africa's newest oil producer.
Mr Abdallahi's daughter today appealed to the United Nations to open talks to restore the country's elected government.
"On behalf of my imprisoned father . . . I wish to send a heartfelt and urgent plea to the United Nations and the international community to open a constructive dialogue to restore the country's rightfully elected government and institutions at the earliest opportunity," Amal Mint Cheikh Abdallahi said in a statement released through a British spokesman.
"My family and I are currently under house arrest and our communications with the outside world are restricted. Please help us return democracy to the people of Mauritania," Amal Mint Cheikh Abdallahi said.
The British spokesman said Ms Abdallahi and his daughter were being held separately under house arrest.
Mr Abdallahi, his prime minister and the interior minister were arrested on Wednesday by soldiers after he tried to sack Mr Abdelaziz and other top military commanders after weeks of simmering political tensions.
Mr Abdallahi won elections last year after a 2005 coup, also instigated by Mr Abdelaziz, that ended years of dictatorship, but the president had been fighting off a series of crises in recent months.
Reuters