06/08/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on Wednesday 6 August, the European Commissioner for development, Louis Michel, strongly condemned the military coup d'état in Mauritania that same day. The European Commission is expressing its serious concerns about the situation in the country, which is jeopardising exemplary democratic progress made in the country since the coup d'état in 2005. Democratic transition, politically and financially supported by the European Union and which culminated with the election of president Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abadllahi in 2007, had been welcomed by the international community. Commissioner Michel expressed his wish that the president and prime minister have their freedom and functions swiftly restored. The press statement adds, “this situation risks threatening our political cooperation with Mauritania, with which we have just finalised a support programme with the Mauritanian government of €156 million for 2008-13, completing the assistance already being provided”. (O.J/trans/rh)