Opposition members to be held for one month

Six members of the banned Union des forces democratiques-Ere nouvelle (UFD-EN) in Mauritania are to be held in preventive detention for one month pending investigations. The detainees, who were arrested last week, are being held for “disturbing public order”, AFP reported on Tuesday. Security forces and demonstrators clashed several times earlier in the month during protests against the banning of the UFD-EN. The government said it banned the party for “inciting violence” and “actions against the interest of the state”. Protesters have also called on the government to cut diplomatic ties with Israel. Mauritania established relations with Israel in 1999.