THE AFRICAN UNION ON MONDAY CALLED ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT A MEETING OF DONORS IN MAURITANIA THAT WILL ADDRESS THE FINANCING OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY IN 2007, DPA REPORTED. THE AU SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE MEETING, SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN THE MAURITANIAN CAPITAL NOUAKCHOTT TUESDAY, WAS PART OF THE UNION'S ATTEMPTS TO FACILITATE THE COUNTRY'S RETURN TO CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER FOLLOWING A MILITARY COUP IN 2005. MAAOUIYA OULD TAYA WAS OUSTED IN A BLOODLESS COUP IN AUGUST LAST YEAR. THE NEW MAURITIAN LEADERSHIP PROMISED TO HOLD ELECTIONS WITH TWO YEARS. THE MEETING IN NOUAKCHOTT WAS ORGANIZED BY THE MAURITANIAN AUTHORITIES AS PART OF A SERIES OF INITIATIVES PAVING THE WAY FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN MARCH 2007.
