Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf of Mauritania

A month after a military junta overthrew Mauritania's first democratically-elected government, a new government headed by Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf has been formed.

Laghdaf was already viewed as being closely associated with Abdel Aziz prior to his appointment.

The junta issued a decree Thursday announcing that Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf is the countrys new prime minister as well as head of the transitional government.

Laghdaf was already viewed as being closely associated with Abdel Aziz prior to his appointment.

The new government led by Laghdaf was appointed on August 31 and announced on television early on September 1.

Ould Mohamed Laghdaf has been Mauritania's ambassador to the EU and Belgium since 2005.

The decree announces that Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf is the country's new prime minister, as well as head of the transitional government.

Laghdaf is the former ambassador to Belgium.

Mr Laghdaf supported Mr Abdallahi's campaign ahead of the country's first free democratic elections last year.

Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf is appointed Prime Minister of Mauritania, following a coup detat.

Using a visit at the National Water Company as an opportunity, he made the speech on the same day when his Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf was in France for talks with European Union officials about the future of Mauritania, following the military coup.

A statement issued by the presidency of the state council said a 22-minister government headed by Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf had been formed, with effect from Sunday.