ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- The African Union on Thursday suspended Mauritania's membership after the west African nation's military coup which ousted President Maaouyia Ould Taya.

    Mauritanian army troops, including members of the presidential guard, seized control of the state radio and television in the capital early Wednesday while President Taya was out of the country.

    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. He survived several coup attempts during his 20-year reign. Enditem