Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NOUAKCHOTT758
2008-12-21 11:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT ABDALLAHI RELEASED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE

Tags:  PREL PGOV AU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1725
PP RUEHPA RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNK #0758 3561143
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 211143Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7955
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0402
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 0324
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0378
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 1920
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0711
RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0444
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0819
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000758 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV AU
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ABDALLAHI RELEASED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT

REF: OPS CENTER/HANKINS TELCON 12/21

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b and
d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000758

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV AU
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ABDALLAHI RELEASED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT

REF: OPS CENTER/HANKINS TELCON 12/21

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b and
d)


1. (C) According to President Abdallahi's Chief of Staff
Mohamed Kaber Ould Hammoudi, eight military vehicles arrived
at President Abdallahi's house in Lemden at 01:00 local on
December 21 with troops demanding that President Abdallahi be
woken immediately. While still in his bedclothes, the
President was forced to leave with the soldiers at
approximately 02:30. Only in transit, was the President told
he was being released. Upon arrival in Nouakchott, the
President and some supporters got a car and returned to
Lemden (he was still on the road back when Charge spoke to
his Chief of Staff at 10:30). Ould Hammoudi told Charge the
President and his advisors would coordinate the President's
trip back to Nouakchott "in a style and time of our choosing"
but added that formal return would be in the next few days.
The anti-coup FNDD is looking to organize supporters along
the route and deciding whether to organize a political rally
upon the President's return.


2. (C) Comment: Mission assumes the timing of this brusque
"release" is keyed to the African Union's Peace and Security
Council meeting on December 22 with the regime hoping to
forestall any PSC sanctions by following through on General
Aziz' earlier promise to release the President before
December 24. It is too early to see what restrictions will
be placed on the President -- particularly whether he will be
able to hold political meetings and rallies. End Comment.
HANKINS