WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States condemned on Wednesday the military coup d'etat in Mauritania, and urged President Maaouyia Ould Taya to be restored to power.

    "What we want to do is join the African Union in condemning the violence in Mauritania," acting State Department spokesman Tom Casey said at a news briefing.

    "And we call for a peaceful return to order under the constitution and the established government of President Taya," Casey said.

    Troops seized power in Mauritania on Wednesday, overthrowing President Maaouyia Ould Taya while he was attending the funeral of Saudi Arabia's King Fahd in Riyadh on Tuesday.

    Ould Taya landed in Niger on Wednesday, hours after soldiers took control of state radio and television in his home country.

    Ould Taya was a strong ally of the United States at the helm of Mauritania. Enditem