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Mauritania's deposed president freed from house arrest

Other News Materials 21 December 2008 17:06 (UTC +04:00)

Former Mauritanian president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was released from house arrest Sunday by the ruling military government, days before African leaders are scheduled to meet in Ethiopia to discuss Mauritania's political situation, dpa reported.

Abdallahi was removed from the presidency in August in a bloodless coup. He was released from prison in November and placed under house arrest.

Abdallahi told the French newspaper Le Monde that he does not want to attend the Addis Abba conference starting on Saturday because he does not want to legitimize the coup leaders who unseated him.

The conference is supposed to delineate powers for Mauritania's government and legislature and pave the way for elections and a constitutional reform in 2009.

Abdallahi says he will not participate in any elections as he has already been elected.

However, he did say he hopes to attend an African Union conference at the end of January, also in Addis Abba.

The release is seen by observers as an attempt at national reconciliation. It also fulfills requirements set by the European Union before relations can return to normal.

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