General Aziz came to power last August in a coup that toppled the country's first freely-elected leader, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.

VOA: standard.2009.03.29

The FNDD has opposed the coup since it took place in August, and is demanding a return to democracy and constitutional order.

VOA: standard.2009.03.12

Boulkheir and Daddah joined opposition candidates Ely Ould Mohamed Vall and Hamadi Ould Meimou in denouncin what they called an "electoral charade, which is trying to legitimize" last August's coup.

VOA: standard.2009.07.19

The African Union also suspended the country following the 6 August coup.

BBC: Mauritania frees deposed leader

Valentin Varennikov of high treason for joining those trying to overthrow former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in an August 1991 coup attempt.

CNN: Tuesday,

As Mr Simes observes, the Bush administration would have been better prepared for the August 1991 coup, masterminded by Mr Kryuchkov, if it had taken notice of these signals.

ECONOMIST: Russia and America