Jeddah, August 09, SPA -- The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has expressed his concern over the military take over staged against the democratically elected government in Mauritania today and detention of its President and Prime Minister by the army officers. The Secretary General stated that he was particularly dismayed by this development as Mauritania had been exhibiting exemplary development towards the entrenchment of democracy and rule of law in the country with the visible positive role and support of its armed forces. Therefore, he said, he would have wished that all matters related to the conduct of political process in the country to be handled within the democratic principles and supremacy of law. In a press statement, he reminded that all Mauritanians and international community, as well as the OIC, had invested heavily in the democracy project in Mauritania and hoped that the armed forces would continue their positive role in favor of democracy. He called for the restoration of democratic process as soon as possible including an immediate release of the President, Prime Minister and other members of the government.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/580553