Leader of the Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD), Ahmed Ould Daddah Nouakchott – Mohamed Shina A senior Mauritanian opposition leader has turned down President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz\'s invitation to discuss the country\'s upcoming elections .
Ahmed Ould Daddah, leader of the Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD), said that he had been invited to a meeting with the president by Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf.
However, in a party statement, the RFD said it had turned down the opportunity to \"avoid sending any wrong signals to the public\" and remain consistent with the stance adopted by umbrella group Mauritanian Coordination of Democratic Opposition (COD).
The statement said that the party is committed to regulations outlined by COD which demand the state’s commitment to neutrality, ?establishing trusted electoral institutions, credible political supervision, and satisfactory financial ?and technical preparations for the elections.?
Meanwhile, sources close to the Islamist party National Rally for Reform and Development (TAWASOL) told Arab Today that the group held another meeting on Saturday evening to review its decision to boycott the elections.
Party leaders are divided on the motion, and a final vote is expected to take place next week.
Mauritanian opposition leaders have claimed that Prime Minister Laghdaf is keen to hold talks with them about participating in elections which were postponed from October 12, to November 23 last week.
Sources said that the PM has met RFD vice-president ?Mohammed Mahmoud Ould Lamat, and also discussed the election with officials from TAWASOL and Union of the Forces of Progress (UFP).
The PM presented the compromises ?made by the president during the meetings, including delaying the elections, expanding the independent committee, ?establishing a national observatory to monitor the elections, and promising international and national ?monitoring of the voting.