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Former Mauritanian military ruler announces presidential bid
[Maghrebia] Two days after Mauritanian political rivals agreed to postpone the country's presidential elections until mid-July, Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall declared his candidature, AFP reported on Saturday (June 6th). Vall led the military coup that overthrew Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya's regime in 2005. Meanwhile, People's Progressive Alliance president Messaoud Ould Boulkheir will likely be named opposition coalition FNDD's sole candidate, Mauritanian daily Nechra reported. The opposition Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD) is expected to meet Sunday to discuss their participation in the election.

In related news, intense negotiations are under way to install a transitional government, PANA reported on Saturday. The measure was among the provisions in the agreement signed last Thursday in Nouakchott. Former junta leader and current presidential candidate General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz proposed three names to lead the interim government: current Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, former Prime Minister Mohamed Lemine Ould Guig and his envoy to the Senegal-led mediation talks, Sid'Ahmed Ould Raiss.
Posted by: Fred 2009-06-08
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=271453