Nouakchott, Mauritania - The president of the Initiative for the resurgence of the abolitionist movement (IRA), a Mauritanian anti-slavery NGO, has strongly condemned police violence against its activists and supporters.

Addressing a press conference here, Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid said anti-slavery activists were violently dispersed by the police as they held a peaceful protest against six people working for a lady, under conditions tantamount to slavery, in the northern city of Nouadhibou.

Many IRA activists were wounded by the police during the protest, according to Mr. Ould Abeid.

He criticized the attitude of the authorities who, he said, shy away from investigating the matter.

Mauritania passed a law against the practice of slavery in 2007.

Pana 08/09/2011