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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

MAURITANIA: Haidalla trial postponed until Thursday

ABIDJAN, 9 December 2003 (IRIN) - A Mauritanian judge has postponed until Thursday the trial of former president, Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, and 14 co-defendants accused of plotting to stage a coup d’etat against President Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya.

Presiding Judge Mohamed Abdellahi Ould Teyeb suspended on Monday the two-week trial, which had already been suspended once last week, without giving any explanation, defense lawyers told IRIN. A defense witness, the lawyers said, was testifying when the judge cut short the trial.

As the courtroom emptied, Ould Haidalla's supporters began chanting "Haidalla, Haidalla", a source who attended the trial told IRIN on Tuesday from Nouakchott.

Ould Haidalla, a former army colonel, ruled this vast desert nation of 2.5 million inhabitants from 1980 to 1984. He was toppled in December 1984 by Ould Taya.

After years away from public life, Ould Haidalla resurfaced in August with an announcement that he would run for presidency in elections on 7 November. But Taya, also an army colonel, defeated him, winning more than 66 percent of the votes.

Ould Haidalla and 14 of his supporters are charged with "conspiracy to destroy or change the government", "acts exposing Mauritania to a war declaration", and "complicity with a foreign power".

Two days before the polls, the government had accused Ould Haidalla of plotting a coup d’etat. He was arrested but released a few hours later in time for him to vote.

The 14 people charged with him, including one of his sons, were arrested either in the run-up to the election or shortly after. If found guilty, the accused could receive sentences ranging from 20 years of forced labour to life in prison.

Theme(s): (IRIN) Governance

[ENDS]

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