Air force pilot Captain Mohammed Ould Saadbouh, who flew over the presidential palace during one alleged attempt at insurrection on June 8th, said that he was obeying orders to carry out a simple reconnaissance mission. "I didn't fire a single round," he said, explaining that the general staff had received reports of suspect car bombs, shooting and the entry into the city of "dubious elements," and had ordered him to help find out what was going on. Saadbouh was one of 181 suspects facing charges of "armed attempts to destroy and change the constitutional regime." Nine of the suspects were being tried in absentia.
The rebels were accused of plotting to destabilize the Taya government, beginning with an army mutiny in June 2003 that was put down after a 36-hour battle with loyalist troops.
Intelligence services Major Ahmedou Ould Yacoub testified that he had been assigned by army chief General Mohammed Lemine Ould N'diayane, (who was killed shortly afterwards) to negotiate the surrender of the coup leaders, and other defendants who insisted they were loyalists.
The authorities claim to have foiled other plots in August and September 2004, but critics of Ould Taya's regime say that he took advantage of the coup allegations to round up and banish the political opposition, especially Islamic militants who are gaining ground among the country's 2.7 million people. The trial has been plagued with delays and has now been adjourned until November 29 because of celebrations marking the country's independence.
