Troops in Mauritania have overthrown the government and say they have formed a state council to rule the country.
Troops in Mauritania have overthrown the country's first freely-elected government and say they have formed a state council to rule the country.
President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahia Ould Ahmed El-Ouakef were held after the president sacked several senior army officers.
President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was held - along with Prime Minister Yahia Ould Ahmed El-Ouakef - after he sacked several senior army officers.
Soldiers have been seen on the streets of the capital, Nouakchott, but there have been no reports of fighting.
Soldiers have been seen on the streets of the capital, Nouakchott, but there have been no reports of fighting.
The country staged free and fair elections in June 2007, two years after a military coup.
The country held free and fair polls in June 2007, two years after a coup.
However, the country has been gripped by political crisis for a fortnight, after a vote of no confidence in the cabinet.
They arrested [President Abdallahi] and took him to the battalion base. It's a textbook coup d'etat Amal Mint Cheikh AbdallahiPresident's daughter
On Tuesday, 48 MPs walked out of the ruling party.
The country has been gripped by political crisis for a fortnight, after a vote of no confidence in the cabinet.
On Monday, 48 MPs walked out of the ruling party.
Reports suggest some of the generals orchestrated the mass resignation, our correspondent James Copnall says.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Abdallahi replaced several senior army officers, including the head of the presidential guard, Gen Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz.
Shortly afterwards, Gen Abdelaziz led soldiers in a coup, against the president.
Unusual troop movements
Unusual troop movements
Earlier on Wednesday, President Abdallahi replaced several senior army officers, including the head of the presidential guard, Gen Ould Abdelaziz.
Culture Minister Abdellahi Salem Ould El-Mouallah read out a statement on television on behalf of the coup leaders.
Shortly afterwards, Gen Abdelaziz led soldiers in a coup against the president.
"The State Council, headed by Gen Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, declares that the decree by which the former president had dismissed the chief of staff of the national army, the chief of the special presidential staff, the chief of the national gendarmes and the chief of the national guards, is annulled legally and practically," he said.
Officials loyal to the general said all the officers sacked by the president had been re-instated.
The first indications of a military coup came as state radio and television was taken off the air amid reports of unusual troop movements in Nouakchott.
A statement issued by them also said Mr Abdallahi was no longer president of Mauritania and that Gen Abdelaziz would head the new state council.
Then the military rounded up the president and prime minister apparently without needing to use force.
The first indications of a military coup came as state television was taken off the air amid reports of unusual troop movements in the capital, Nouakchott.
The president's daughter, Amal Mint Cheikh Abdallahi, said soldiers seized her father at his house at 0920 local time (0920 GMT).
The president's daughter, Amal Mint Cheikh Abdallahi, said soldiers seized her father at his house at 0920 local time (0920 GMT).
She raised the alarm in a phone call to a French radio station.
"The president has just been arrested - five minutes ago - by members of the presidential security battalion, on the orders of Gen Abdelaziz," she told Radio France International.
"They came here to find him. They arrested him here and took him to the battalion base. It's a textbook coup d'etat."
Political instability
Political instability
Mauritania is one of the world's poorest nations as well as its newest oil producer.
Mauritania has been described as a long succession of coups, with the military involved in nearly every government since Mauritania's independence from France.
The desert nation, a former French colony of more than three million people, has been looking to oil revenues to boost its economy.
Presidential elections held in 2007 ended a two-year period of military rule - the product of a military coup in 2005.
Presidential elections held in 2007 ended a two-year period of military rule - the product of a coup in 2005.
The elections were deemed to have been free and fair and appeared to herald a new era of democracy.
The elections were deemed to have been free and fair and appeared to herald a new era of democracy.
Earlier this year, however, the president dismissed the government amid protests over soaring food prices.
Earlier this year, however, the president dismissed the government amid protests over soaring food prices.
The cabinet that replaced it has been dogged by instability, lacking the support of a moderate Islamist party and a major opposition group that were in the former government.
The cabinet that replaced it has been dogged by instability, lacking the support of a moderate Islamist party and a major opposition group that were in the former government.
Mauritania is one of the world's poorest nations as well as its newest oil producer.
The desert nation, a former French colony of more than three million people, has been looking to oil revenues to boost its economy.
Are you in Mauritania? Did you witness the coup? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below.
Are you in Mauritania? Did you witness the coup? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below.
