Spain gave its backing Tuesday to democratization plans in Mauritania, where long-time ruler Maaouya Ould Taya was ousted in a bloodless coup last year, according to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told Mauritanian President Ely Ould Mohammed Vall that Spain supported the democratization process, which is to begin shortly with a series of polls. Ould Vall arrived Monday in Madrid for a two-day official visit, his first to Spain. Mauritania's popular junta has committed itself to handing over power to a civilian government. Ould Vall said international observers were welcome to follow the round of legislative, municipal, senate and presidential elections, which is to conclude in March 2007. Zapatero and Ould Vall agreed to step up cooperation against illegal immigration, adding that joint boat patrols could be reinforced with aircraft off the Mauritanian coast.
