Brussels, 20 August 2008: The ITUC expressed its deep concern at the repression used by the Mauritanian security forces on 19 August to break up a trade union rally held in protest at the military coup of 6 August overthrowing President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.

Despite the rally being authorised, a number of trade unionists, including Samory Ould Beye, the General Secretary of the CLTM, affiliated to the ITUC, were forcibly taken to a police station in Nouakchott, to be later released.

When the coup was announced, the ITUC had instantly joined the Mauritanian trade union movement in its emphatic condemnation and called for the immediate restoration of Constitutional order in the country.
ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder has firmly denounced the latest antidemocratic measures taken against peaceful trade union demonstrators and reiterated the call for a return to constitutional rule.

The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 311 national affiliates.

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on the following numbers: +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.