What had been the sleepy capital of Mauritania turned into a war zone yesterday when rebel army units tried to seize control of the west African state in a pre-dawn coup, triggering street battles with loyalist troops involving tanks, mortars and aircraft.
Neither side seemed to control Nouakchott last night. Smoke was seen rising from near the presidential palace as fighting raged.
Young officers from the air force and an armoured unit were said to be behind the attempt to topple one of the Muslim world’s most pro-western leaders. President Maaouiya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya has cracked down on Islamists after forging ties with the US and Israel in a policy u-turn that has alienated many Mauritanians. He has also angered the army by sacking some officers.
Last week at least 32 Islamic leaders were charged with ”plotting against the constitutional order”.
Hospitals were last night said to be treating dozens of casualties, and the Arab satellite television station al-Jazeera said coup forces were occupying the palace. – Guardian Unlimited Â