NOUAKCHOTT, Feb 12, 2009 (AFP) - A Libyan delegation was in Mauritania on Thursday in a bid to mediate between the military junta and ousted president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, diplomatic sources said.
The 11-member delegation met with junta leader Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Wednesday night and was due to hold talks with the ousted president Thursday in his home village. No details of the delegation's meeting with Ould Abdel Aziz emerged.
The move follows the recent election of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi as the head of the 53-nation African Union.
According to diplomatic sources, Libya is pushing both sides towards talks to in an attempt to resolve a political crisis caused by an August 6 coup.
Earlier this month the African Union slapped sanctions on members of the junta, including a travel ban and a freeze of bank assets.
The military rulers have announced they will hold new presidential elections on June 6.
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