Mauritania Watch: Short Term Leadership

Here's more news out of Mauritania.

The military council that overthrew the Mauritanian government this week has assured political parties none of its members will stand for office.

The new head of state, Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, said his was a caretaker administration. He has previously promised elections within two years.

The BBC's Pascale Harter in Nouakchott says opposition parties seem to share popular optimism about the move.

The coup removed long-serving president Maaouiya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya.

There was dancing in the streets of Nouakchott after Wednesday's coup.

Our correspondent says many people see the coup led by Mauritania's security chief as new dawn for democracy in the country.

Four days into the job as self-appointed head of state, Col Ely Ould Mohamed Vall summoned opposition leaders to the presidential palace on Saturday.

He said no member of the military council of colonels which seized power in a bloodless coup last week would stand for elections.

I have to admit, if they're inviting opposition leaders to the presidential palace, and the oppositionl eaders are expressing optimism at the change, I'm forced to be optimistic myself. We'll see how it goes.