Mauritanian junta announces formation of a government

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

NOUAKCHOTT (AFP) — Mauritania's junta in power since an August 6 coup d'etat announced early Monday the "formation of a government," state television reported.

A statement issued by the presidency of the state council said a 22-minister government headed by Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf had been formed, with effect from Sunday.

Most of the ministers were backers of the coup, whether affiliated with political parties or independents.

At least three of the ministers belonged to the Union of Democratic Forces (RFD), the second party in the national assembly, headed by Ahmed Ould Daddah. But the party immediately issued a statement saying they should be considered as having "automatically resigned."

The RFD said on August 25 it would not take part in the...