26/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - French Green MEP Marie Anne Isler Béguin has hailed the release of Chbih Ould Cheikh Malainine, President of the Front populaire mauritanien, following a presidential pardon granted on 24 August. The MEP points out that she and other MEPs granted the politician the symbolic European Freedom Passport, following his detention in April 2002 under false accusations of jeopardising national security and association with criminals.