Coup in Mauritania

Mauritania's army has announced in a statement on the state news agency that it has overthrown President Taya's "oppressive" government.

For more details: http://www.bbcnews.com

So, in other words, their President...about as America-friendly as you can find in West Africa...leaves to attend the State Funeral of Saudi King Fahd...and his country is yanked out from underneath him.

It is, however, worth noting that Mauritania recently passed another decree abolishing slavery...even though it is il-equipped to enforce this one any better than the similar ones from years before it. Mauritania is Sahara country...sparsly populated, undeveloped, and slow to come around to progressive concepts...because they have no use for them.