President held in bloodless coup

Early on 6 August 2008 a group of soldiers detained Mauritanian President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf in an apparent bloodless coup; Waghf is reportedly now being detained at an army barracks facility, and Abdallahi is reportedly under house arrest at the presidential palace. There have been no reports of unrest, and the coup was conducted without any violence. At this point, the situation in Mauritania, and Nouakchott specifically, is said to be calm, and there is a heavy security presence on streets. Confirmed reports indicate that Nouakchott International Airport (GQNN/NKC) is currently closed; the facility will likely remain inoperational at least until 8 August. It is not known if any roads leading to and from the capital are closed. It is possible that movement may be restricted to some extent, although the latest reports from the ground indicate that day-to-day activities are continuing largely as usual. State radio and television outlets were taken off the air shortly before the coup began and have not resumed broadcasting. The coup comes amid a recent political crisis in the country, as the Cabinet was reshuffled several weeks ago following a vote of no confidence. At some point in the past several days, the president replaced several military generals who had reportedly been "stirring up the political crisis." The coup occurred almost immediately following the announcement that at least two high-ranking military officials had been replaced; at least one of the replaced officials (reportedly the former head of the presidential guard) was a key leader of the coup. The coup leaders have already announced a new junta to lead the country.