SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Talks on resolving Honduras’ leadership crisis broke off Sunday after the interim government rejected a proposed compromise, saying a provision calling for ousted President Manuel Zelaya to serve out his term was “…
Posts Tagged ‘coup’
General wins Mauritania election
July 19th, 2009 |
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The main challengers to coup leader Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz have denounced Mauritania’s presidential election as a "charade" and demanded an inquiry.
With more than half of the ballots counted, Gen Abdelaziz has about 52% of the votes, election officials said.
Four key challengers called the result "prefabricated" and urged the international community to investigate.
The general’s supporters are already on the streets of the capital, Nouakchott, celebrating his predicted victory.
‘Confident’
The leading opposition candidates, including Messaoud Ould Boulkheir and Ahmed Ould Daddah, have already rejected Saturday’s election.
MAURITANIA- Dominated by light-skinned Arabic-speakers (Moors)
- Slavery still practised, campaigners say
- Black Africans complain of discrimination
- Mostly in the Sahara Desert
Messaoud Ould Boulkheir told a press conference: "The results which are starting to come out show that it is an electoral charade which is trying to legitimise the coup."
A statement from the group of four challengers read: "Firstly we firmly reject these prefabricated results, secondly we call on the international community to put in place an inquiry to shed some light on the electoral process."
The election commission currently puts him second with about 16% of the vote and Ahmed Ould Daddah third with nearly 14%.
There are nine candidates in all.
Voter turnout was 61%, the commission said.
If Gen Abdelaziz wins a majority he will avoid a second round on 1 August.
His director of communications said he was confident that would happen.
Cheikhna Ould Nenni said: "Ould Abdelaziz should get between 52% and 53% of the votes. Without question we will make it in the first round."
Gen Abdelaziz came to power in a coup last year.
Mauritania has been led by a democratically elected leader for just one year since independence in 1960.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Large turnout in Mauritania vote
July 18th, 2009 |
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Mauritania is gearing up for its first presidential election since a military coup in August 2008 on Saturday.
The man who led that coup, Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, is seen as the front-runner, along with veteran opposition leader Ahmed Ould Daddah.
Mauritanian journalist Hamdi el-Hacen says the elections have been the most hotly contested in some time.
Hours before voting began, there were reports of shooting between police and armed men in the capital, Nouakchott.
Police sources said one man was injured in the exchange of fire and was threatening to detonate an explosives belt.
The man was reported to be surrounded by security forces. Police said another man involved in the shooting had fled the scene.
Mauritania has been led by a democratically elected leader for just one year since independence in 1960.
The desert nation has experienced several military coups and long periods of oppressive rule.
The 2007 elections won by President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in 2007 are widely seen as the country’s only free and fair poll but he was toppled just a year later by Gen Abdelaziz.
Following the coup, it was suspended by the African Union and many donors suspended aid.
MAURITANIA- Dominated by light-skinned Arabic-speakers (Moors)
- Slavery still practised, campaigners say
- Black Africans complain of discrimination
- Mostly in the Sahara Desert
Mr el-Hacen told the BBC’s Network Africa programme that the campaigning has been vigorous but tolerant.
"It was very interesting to see people supporting different candidates standing alongside one another without any hatred, or quarrelling," he said.
Although the country is officially an Islamic republic, Mohamed Jamil Ould Mansour is the first Islamist to stand for the presidency.
The largely-desert country presents a cultural contrast, with an Arab-Berber population to the north and black Africans to the south. Many of its people are nomads.
During their campaigns, the contestants highlighted unemployment, illiteracy, poverty and poor infrastructure as their priorities.
"The country has been independent for 46 years but it is almost naked of any modern infrastructure," said Mr el-Hacen.
He says citizens are anxious to see how the desperate poverty, which he says affects more than half of the population will be alleviated.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Robert Naiman: The Day They Arrested President Roosevelt
July 17th, 2009 |
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Imagine how different America might be today, if FDR had been deposed in a coup. That’s what happened in Honduras, where President Zelaya was deported for proposing a referendum on reforming the constitution.
Mark Weisbrot: Who’s in Charge Of Obama’s Foreign Policy?
July 16th, 2009 |
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The current standoff in Honduras, in which the coup government headed by Roberto Micheletti is refusing to allow the return of elected president Manuel Zelaya,…
Al Giordano: Lobbyist Lanny Davis Seeks a Rematch with Obama over Honduras Coup
July 14th, 2009 |
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Dear Mr. President: Remember, during the 2008 presidential primaries, the constant screeching national media presence from lawyer-lobbyist Lanny Davis? Yeah, him. The guy who…
Robert Naiman: U.S. Press Falsely Claims Honduran Plurality for Coup
July 13th, 2009 |
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Did a CID-Gallup poll last week indicate that a plurality of Hondurans support the military coup against democratically elected President Zelaya? Yes, according to the…