19 August 2008
Nouakchott — Thousands of people in Mauritania have attended a rally in support of the leader of the recent coup, Gen Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz. The coup has also been backed by the majority of the country's politicians.
Organisers said thousands watched as the general promised to tackle corruption and extremism.
However, some voices inside the country, as well as most of the international community, have condemned the undemocratic change of government.
While the organisers' claim that more than 30,000 people cheered on Gen Abdelaziz was perhaps a slight exaggeration, this was still a large rally by Mauritanian standards.
Intellectuals and politicians have supported the coup - which happened earlier this month - either through a sense of opportunism, or because they disliked the former President, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.
More than two thirds of the country's political parties, members of parliament and senators have voiced their support for Gen Abdelaziz.
The politicians were there in large numbers, while poorer Mauritanians received free transport to the stadium where the rally took place. Gen Abdelaziz gave a short speech.
He promised to honour the commitments he made in a recent televised address, notably to fight corruption and extremism - but again did not commit himself to a date for elections.
The political parties opposed to the coup d'etat had intended to hold a march at the same time as the general's rally, but the authorities denied them permission at the last moment.
The opposition accuses the military of cracking down on liberties following the coup which has been denounced by the international community.
They also say people were bribed to attend the rally in support of Gen Abdelaziz, an accusation rejected by the organisers.
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