Mauritanian former national security chief, Ely Ould Mohammed Vall is seen sitting at the presidential palace in Mauritania's capital Nouakchott, August 4. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    DAKAR, Aug. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Mauritanian coup leaders on Thursday declared the dissolution of the National Assembly, or parliament, a day after they ousted President Ould Taya who had been in Saudi Arabia attending the funeral of King Fahd.

    According to the Mauritanian radio broadcast monitored here, the Military Council for Justice and Democracy, which was established after the widely condemned coup, said it would maintain the constitution passed on July 20, 1991, but would supplement "a Military Council charter" to the constitution.

    The regime, led by the former national security chief, Ely OuldMohammed Vall, decided to make no change to the government under Prime Minister Sghair Ould M'Bareck, who was appointed to the postby Taya in November 2003.

    The Constitutional Council, the High Islamic Council, political parties and local governments would be kept in place, according to the Military Council.

    Both the United States and France, Mauritania's former colonial power, joined in the worldwide condemnation after the coup.

    In another development, the African Union's Peace and Security Council on Thursday suspended Mauritania until "the restoration of constitutional order in the country." The council said it would send a team to the country to reiterate its stand on the issue. Enditem