Freed PM opposes Mauritania coup

The prime minister said he had been held in good conditions

The deposed prime minister of Mauritania has said he will campaign for the return of the president toppled in a bloodless coup last week.

Yahia Ould Ahmed El-Waqef said he believed the former president was in good health.

He was speaking at a rally against the coup, shortly after being released by Mauritania's new military rulers.

Another demonstration was held on the other side of the capital, Nouakchott, in favour of the military takeover.

Last week, military officers ousted Mauritania's first democratically elected leader, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, taking him captive along with other senior civilian officials.

'Peaceful struggle'

On Monday, coup leaders released the prime minister and three other high-ranking officials, but not Mr Abdallahi.

The freed officials addressed hundreds of supporters at Nouakchott's football stadium, who chanted the name of the deposed president.

'I fear for my father, the president' What next for coup leaders? Taking coup in their stride

Mr El-Waqef told the BBC's James Copnall in the capital, Nouakchott, that he had been held in "good conditions" and called on the coup leaders to "return to legality".

"We're going to continue our peaceful struggle for the return of the president," he said.

Mauritania is divided between those who welcome the coup, blaming the deposed president for the country's poor economic situation, and those who think the return of the military to public life is a disaster, our correspondent says.

The coup was led by General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, who has promised to hold democratic elections "as soon as possible".

He has not set a timeframe for a vote, but has indicated he could stand for election.

The African Union has said Mauritania, one of the world's poorest countries, will be suspended at least until a constitutional government is restored.

On Monday, France followed the US in saying it would suspend all non-humanitarian aid to the North-West African nation - a former French colony.

The ambassadors of France, Spain, the US and Germany have told the coup leader his plan to hold new elections is unacceptable.