Troops in Mauritania have overthrown the country's first freely-elected leader and say they have formed a state council to rule the country.
Troops in Mauritania have overthrown the country's first freely-elected leader and say they have formed a state council to rule the country.
President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was held after he tried to dismiss the military's top commanders.
President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was held after he tried to dismiss the military's top commanders.
Troops are out on the streets of the capital, Nouakchott.
Troops are out on the streets of the capital, Nouakchott, where tear gas was fired at about 50 protesters.
President Abdallahi came to power in free polls last year, taking over from a military junta. The African Union and European Commission condemned the coup.
President Abdallahi came to power in free and fair polls last year, taking over from a military junta.
Troops rounded up the president - along with his Prime Minister Yahia Ould Ahmed El-Ouakef - apparently without needing to use force on Wednesday.
Troops rounded up the president - along with his Prime Minister Yahia Ould Ahmed El-Ouakef - apparently without needing to use force on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, the president tried to dismiss four senior army officers, including the head of the presidential guard, Gen Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, who responded by launching the coup.
Earlier in the day, the president tried to dismiss four senior army officers, including the head of the presidential guard, Gen Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, who responded by launching the coup.
The country has been gripped by political crisis for a fortnight, after a vote of no confidence in the cabinet.
The country has been in the grip of a political crisis since a vote of no confidence in the cabinet two weeks ago.
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 Monday, 48 MPs walked out of the ruling party.
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 Monday, 48 MPs walked out of the ruling party.
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.
Reports suggest some of the generals orchestrated the mass resignation, our correspondent James Copnall says.
Nouakchott airport has been closed, security sources told the AFP news agency on Wednesday.
Nouakchott airport has been closed, security sources told the AFP news agency on Wednesday.
About 50 protesters in the centre of the capital were dispersed after police fired tear gas at them, the Reuters news agency reported.
Unusual movements
Unusual movements
Culture Minister Abdellahi Salem Ould El-Mouallah read a statement on TV on behalf of the coup leaders announcing the presidential decree sacking the top army officers had been "annulled legally and practically".
Culture Minister Abdellahi Salem Ould El-Mouallah read a statement on TV on behalf of the coup leaders announcing the presidential decree sacking the top army officers had been "annulled legally and practically".
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.
The first indications of a military coup came as state radio and television were taken off the air amid reports of unusual troop movements in 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.
She raised the alarm in a phone call to a French radio station.
"They came here to find him," she told Radio France International. "They arrested him here and took him to the battalion base. It's a textbook coup d'etat."
"They came here to find him," she told Radio France International. "They arrested him here and took him to the battalion base. It's a textbook coup d'etat."
Political instability
Political instability
The African Union condemned the coup, demanded a return to constitutional government and said it was sending an envoy to Nouakchott immediately.
The African Union condemned the coup, demanded a return to constitutional government and said it was sending an envoy to Nouakchott immediately.
An army statement said the president was no longer in charge
An army statement said the president was no longer in charge
The European Commission said the coup threatened democratic advances Mauritania and it threatened to suspend aid.
The governments of South Africa and Nigeria - both major players in the African Union - also criticised the military takeover.
Mauritania has been described as a long succession of coups, with the military involved in nearly every government since its independence from France in 1960.
The US state department and the European Commission also decried the coup, with the commission warning it would suspend aid to Mauritania.
Mauritania has a long history of coups, with the military involved in nearly every government since its independence from France in 1960.
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 military 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.
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.
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.
