Gunfire heard in Mauritanian capital as troops surround radio
Mauritanian president arrives in Niger after soldiers surround state radio

File photo: Mauritanian President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya (Xinhua/AFP photo)

    DAKAR, Aug. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Mauritanian army troops, including members of the presidential guard, seized control of the state radio and television in the capital early Wednesday while President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya was out of the country, according to reports reaching here from Nouakchott.

    The presidential guard troops cut state media broadcasts. Heavily armed soldiers deployed in force on the streets of Nouakchott, and around ministerial offices and the presidency. However no gunfire or violence was reported in the city, the reports said.

File photo: Mauritanian army troops (Xinhua/AFP photo)

    President Taya, who has survived several coup attempts during his 20-year reign, has cracked down ruthlessly against opponents,including members of the army, jailing scores of people accused of plotting to overthrow him.

    Mauritania, a sparsely populated nation of 3 million on the northwest edge of Africa, is strictly regulated by Taya who took power in a 1984 military coup. Enditem