Mauritania: France to impose sanctions over detained president

(SomaliNet) After it failed to release ousted president Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, France said on Thursday it was ready to impose sanctions against members of Mauritania\'s new ruling junta.

Already, France has suspended development aid to Mauritania after a military coup earlier this month that ousted Abdallahi.

\"France notes that President Abdallahi has not been released and that the constitutional order resulting from the elections of March 2007 has not been restored,\" a statement from President Nicolas Sarkozy\'s office said.

\"In these circumstances, France is ready to take individual sanctions measures against the main leaders of the junta,\" it said.

Abdallahi was arrested by soldiers during the coup, along with Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef and Interior Minister Mohamed Ould R\'zeizim.

Waghef and R\'zeizim have both been released but Abdallahi has remained in custody-Reuters