Coup leaders promise Mauritania elections

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The leaders of a bloodless military coup in Mauritania have promised to hold "free and transparent" elections as soon as possible.

The officers overthrew the African country's first democratically elected president, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, seizing him after he tried to dismiss army chiefs.

The BBC said the coup drew attracted widespread international condemnation.

The streets of the capital, Nouakchott, were reported calm. The whereabouts of the president Thursday were still unclear.