Military Junta release Prime Minister

The newly established military junta released Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf and three other top government officials on 11 August 2008 in what coup leaders called a conciliatory gesture. However, military officials stated that there are no immediate plans to release President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi who has been held at an undisclosed location since the 6 August coup led by Gen.Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz. There were unconfirmed reports that the release comes after an envoy of ambassadors from the United States, France, Germany and Spain met with junta leader to demand the release of the government officials. International pressure continued to mount against the coup as France announced a freeze on non-humanitarian aid to Mauritania on 11 August, a step that the United States had taken earlier. The assistance package will not include humanitarian aid. The European Union has also threatened to withdraw aid. The move also follows the African Union's 9 August suspension of Mauritania's membership to the organization.