Mauritanian govt continues nationwide census despite strong opposition

Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) – The current national census in Mauritania will continue and perpetrators of acts likely to sabotage the exercise will be severely punished according to the law, the Mauritanian Interior Minister, Mohamed Ould Boilil, warned in a statement quoted Wednesday by the state media.

The statement came after days of riots in the city of Kaédi, 430 kilometres southeast of Nouakchott, and in other localities of the river valley.

Black Mauritanians are demonstrating against the current head count, describing it as "discriminatory and racist" in nature.

A rioter was shot dead and several others injured Tuesday in the town of Maghama, 120 kilometres east of Kaédi.

The Mauritanian government has condemned the demonstrations, alleging that the protesters were being used by some politicians.
-0- PANA SAS/JSG/JEN/VAO 28Sept2011