Mauritanian junta leader Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz confirmed his candidature in the June 6th presidential election, Journal Tahalil reported on Sunday (March 29th). In an interview with satellite TV channel Al Arabiya on Saturday, Abdelaziz said he would resign from the military in mid-April. The Mauritanian constitution bars active-duty military personnel from seeking elected office. The president of the Senate will be responsible for assuring that the government functions smoothly during the transition, Mauritanian daily L'Authentique reported. In related news, Mauritania's anti-coup National Frond for the Defence of Democracy (FNDD) said Sunday it would accept efforts by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade to mediate the political crisis only if the junta were to ease travel restrictions on deposed president Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi, free former Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghef and abandon its proposed election calendar.
Libyan leader and African Union chairman Moamer Kadhafi, whose recent mediation attempt was unsuccessful, said Sunday in Addis Ababa that military rule in Mauritania is a "reality we have to accept". He also questioned the decision last week by the AU Peace and Security Council to maintain sanctions on Mauritania, saying that the Council does not have independent authority to impose such measures.