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Mauritanian president and premier under arrest

By DPA,

Nouakchott (Mauritania) : Mauritania’s president and prime minister were under house arrest Wednesday after being held by troops, a source associated with the presidential palace said.

The arrests of President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf immediately followed the sacking of high-ranking military officers.

Local observers reported demonstrations in favour of the coup and against the president, who has been accused of corruption.

Troop movements were reported in the streets of the capital Nouakchott, but there were no reports of violence or detentions.

Local television and radio stopped reporting.

Mauritania had been regarded as an African democracy model following a string of transparent elections.