France pledges help for Mauritania in aid talks

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday promised to support Mauritania in its efforts to unlock international aid suspended last year in protest at a coup by the Islamic state's current president.

Sarkozy emphasised Mauritania's "major strategic importance in the fight against terrorism" after meeting with President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, whose visit to Paris marks a normalisation in relations, Sarkozy's office said.

Sarkozy also proposed a bilateral deal to convert 17 million euros of Mauritania's debt into investment in areas such as water, education, health and professional training.

Aziz overthrew Mauritania's first freely elected leader last year. He was sworn in as president in August after a poll that opponents said was fraudulent but that prepared the way for re-engagement with France and other countries.

The International Monetary Fund said in September it was ready to re-build ties with Mauritania. The European Union had suspended aid payments in reaction to the coup but has indicated it may be willing to restart cooperation, while NATO has already announced a return to normal relations.

In August, a suicide bombing at the French embassy in Mauritania injured three people days after Aziz was sworn in. The bombing was claimed by Al Qaeda's North Africa wing.