This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7654148.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mauritania coup protest broken up Mauritania coup protest broken up
(20 minutes later)
Police in Mauritania's capital have used tear gas to disperse scores of protesters calling for the release of the president ousted in August's coup.Police in Mauritania's capital have used tear gas to disperse scores of protesters calling for the release of the president ousted in August's coup.
The demonstration came ahead of the African Union's Monday deadline for Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi to be freed and restored to power.The demonstration came ahead of the African Union's Monday deadline for Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi to be freed and restored to power.
The AU has already suspended Mauritania's membership over the coup and has warned of further sanctions.The AU has already suspended Mauritania's membership over the coup and has warned of further sanctions.
But the army coup leader has dismissed the AU's demand as unconstructive.But the army coup leader has dismissed the AU's demand as unconstructive.
General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz has appointed a transitional government to stay in power until new elections, to be organised in 14 months time.General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz has appointed a transitional government to stay in power until new elections, to be organised in 14 months time.
Villa arrestVilla arrest
Sunday's protest came in defiance of a ban on demonstrations imposed by the country's military rulers.Sunday's protest came in defiance of a ban on demonstrations imposed by the country's military rulers.
Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi is being kept under house arrestSidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi is being kept under house arrest
Local journalist Hamdi Ould Mohamed el Hacen told the BBC's Network Africa programme that police used tear gas and bludgeons to disperse the protesters, but no arrests were made.Local journalist Hamdi Ould Mohamed el Hacen told the BBC's Network Africa programme that police used tear gas and bludgeons to disperse the protesters, but no arrests were made.
He says Mr Abdelaziz, who became Mauritania's first democratically elected leader in 2007 after a coup two years earlier, also partly instigated by Gen Abdelaziz, is believed to be in good health.He says Mr Abdelaziz, who became Mauritania's first democratically elected leader in 2007 after a coup two years earlier, also partly instigated by Gen Abdelaziz, is believed to be in good health.
He is being kept under house arrest in a villa in the capital, Nouakchott, the reporter says.He is being kept under house arrest in a villa in the capital, Nouakchott, the reporter says.
But the military junta say they will never consider Mr Abdelaziz's return to power.But the military junta say they will never consider Mr Abdelaziz's return to power.
The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa, where the African Union is based, says the continental body is trying hard to shake off its old image as a "dictators' club".The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa, where the African Union is based, says the continental body is trying hard to shake off its old image as a "dictators' club".
It wants to enforce at least some minimum standard of constitutional legitimacy for its members and it has already had one success, she says.It wants to enforce at least some minimum standard of constitutional legitimacy for its members and it has already had one success, she says.
When the long-standing president of Togo, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died, his son was hastily sworn in to succeed him.When the long-standing president of Togo, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died, his son was hastily sworn in to succeed him.
There was such an outcry that the young Faure Gnassingbe was persuaded to go through a form of election before assuming power.There was such an outcry that the young Faure Gnassingbe was persuaded to go through a form of election before assuming power.
Judging by that election, the standard of democracy demanded by the AU is not very high but even so, Mauritania's new rulers seem unwilling to compromise, our reporter says.Judging by that election, the standard of democracy demanded by the AU is not very high but even so, Mauritania's new rulers seem unwilling to compromise, our reporter says.