The United States has threatened to impose sanctions against the leaders of the 6 August 2008 military coup in Mauritania. The US Ambassador in Nouakchott, Mark Boulware, issued the threats during a press conference here Thursday. The US envoy said that members of the junta could face “targetted” sanctions, such as travel restrictions and the freezing of their bank assets. President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who was elected in the 25 March 2007 polls, was ousted by a military junta comprising 12 senior army officers, led by Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, 6 August. The coup was firmly condemned by the US government, with Washington demanding the restoration of the constitutional order, while announcing the suspension of its development assistance to the country (except for the humanitarian assistance).
