SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES REPORTED RELEASE OF DEPOSED MAURITANIAN LEADER

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES REPORTED RELEASE OF DEPOSED MAURITANIAN LEADER
New York, Dec 22 2008 10:10AM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the reported release from house arrest of the President of Mauritania, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who was overthrown by the country's military in August, and called for the restoration of constitutional order as soon as possible.

"He also welcomes the removal of other restrictions imposed on him since he was deposed in a coup d'état on 6 August 2008," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a statement issued last night.

Mr. Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was elected President after multi-party democratic elections last year. The overthrow of his Government received wide condemnation, including from Mr. Ban and the United Nations Security Council.

"The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the prompt restoration of constitutional order in Mauritania in the interest of peace and respect for the rule of law in the country," the <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3627">statement added.

Since August, Said Djinnit, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for West Africa, has been trying to help restore constitutional order in the country.
Dec 22 2008 10:10AM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/