Mauritania's ousted President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya vowed on Monday to return to his country despite being deposed by a military coup last week. "As president, I order officers and soldiers of the armed forces and security forces to put an end to this criminal act so that the situation returns to normal," Taya said in remarks broadcast by Arabic satellite television Al Arabiya.
"I will return home, God willing, so that we can together continue the path for a better tomorrow," he said, reading from a statement.
Taya, who had ruled Mauritania since 1984, was overthrown in a bloodless coup by a group of army officers on Wednesday while he was out of the country.
A military junta has taken power and vowed to hold presidential polls within two years in the West African country.
"I see it as my duty to alert all citizens to the danger of the situation with respect to the country's present and future," said Taya, who was dressed in a grey suit. He said he would call for an emergency session of parliament when he returned.
People in Mauritania have been celebrating the end of Taya's government which had been seen as corrupt and dictatorial.
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