Secretary-General welcomes reported release of deposed Mauritanian leader

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the reported release from house arrest of the President of Mauritania, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who was overthrown by the country’s military in August, and called for the restoration of constitutional order as soon as possible.

“He also welcomes the removal of other restrictions imposed on him since he was deposed in a coup d’état on 6 August 2008,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement issued last night.

Mr. Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was elected President after multi-party democratic elections last year. The overthrow of his Government received wide condemnation, including from Mr. Ban and the United Nations Security Council.

“The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the prompt restoration of constitutional order in Mauritania in the interest of peace and respect for the rule of law in the country,” the statement added.

Since August, Said Djinnit, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, has been trying to help restore constitutional order in the country.