Excerpt from document summary
(C) UNDP Res Rep Maria Ribeiro invited COMs from the US,
French, Spanish and German embassies as well as the EU
Commission to discuss today's developments. Ambassador
Boulware discussed his conversation earlier in the day with
General Aziz.

Full Document
062010Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7461
INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
MAGHREB COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE
CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE

Content
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000413

STATE FOR AF/W, S/CT, PM, INR, S/ES-O, DS/DSS/C, DS/RD/AF,
OCS/ACS
STATE PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2018
TAGS: ASEC, CASC, PGOV, PREL, PINR, MOPS, MR
SUBJECT: SIT REP 3: COUP IN MAURITANIA

REF: A. NOUAKCHOTT 411
B. NOUAKCHOTT 412

Classified By: Ambassador Mark M. Boulware for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) UNDP Res Rep Maria Ribeiro invited COMs from the US,
French, Spanish and German embassies as well as the EU
Commission to discuss today's developments. Ambassador
Boulware discussed his conversation earlier in the day with
General Aziz. Counterparts reported similar discussions with
various interlocutors. Both the UN and EU had been contacted
by the Minister of Economy and Finance, who purported to
speak on behalf of the Council of State, to assert that the
coup did not represent a halt in the process of
democratization and that democratic institutions would be
preserved. He said that the Council of State would have
substantial civilian participation and would assume only the
powers of the executive with current ministers remaining in
place for the time being. He promised a renewed focus on
good governance and immediate efforts to get the government
moving. The French Charge said that some sources predicted
that President Abdallahi would be brought to trial. The
Europeans indicated that their governments had or soon would
release statements condemning the coup. None of the
organizations reported any security precautions beyond
advising nationals to exercise caution and limit movements.

2. (C) Ambassador Boulware called on the Senegalese
Ambassador to inquire about Senegal's position. He said that
he had not yet received an official position but that
speaking personally he deplored the development and predicted
significant international condemnation. He confirmed that at
least as of this afternoon the border with Senegal was open
and did not expect it to be closed.

3. (U) The airport in Nouakchott has reopened and flights to
and from Nouakchott are resuming.

4. (SBU) (Name Removed) has been traveling around Nouakchott all day.
He reports that as of two hours ago, forward positioning by
many of security services had been retracted. He says that
there is a smaller security presence than earlier in the day.
Businesses and restaurants remain open and Mauritanians
appear to be conducting business as usual.

5. (SBU) Local media is now reporting incorrectly that
Ambassador met personally with General Aziz in his office
today. The local media,s report is more detailed than Al
Jazeera,s earlier report, giving details about the location
of the meeting. They also report that the head of the EU
mission, the French Ambassador, and the Spanish Ambassador
met with General Aziz too.

6. (C) Post confirms that RAO has taken a group of about 15
Mauritanian to police officers to the United States for
training for the month of August. They are currently in the
United States.
Boulware