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Mauritania opposition protests against proposal to remove Senate

Xinhua, May 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Thousands of Mauritanian opposition supporters turned out over the weekend for a protest march called by the National Forum for Democracy and Unity (FNDU), to oppose a proposal by the country's president to organize a referendum on removal of the Senate.

The proposal made by President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on May 3, envisions the removal of the Senate which, according to him, slows down law making process, and instead he wants it to be replaced by regional councils in provinces.

During a meeting held after the protest march, opposition leaders condemned the proposal.

"We are marching today to tell the president that the Constitution is a red line," said Saleh Ould Hanenna, the president of FNDU coalition that brings together 10 political parties.

Last week, Mauritania president called for political dialogue on the issue before organizing a constitutional referendum in two or three weeks.

The opposition march and the public meeting ended without any major incident being witnessed. Endit