Sep 25, 2009

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO said on Friday it had decided to resume full cooperation with Mauritania in the Mediterranean Dialogue security forum, citing political progress after July presidential elections.

Last week the International Monetary Fund said it was ready to restart its relationship with Mauritania suspended last year after a coup by now President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. The European Union has also said it may be ready to rekindle ties.

Aziz was sworn in as president in August after a poll that opponents said was fraudulent but which former colonial power France and others have said paved the way for re-engagement with the Islamic state.

NATO said its 28 members took their decision "following the political process opened in the country by the presidential elections".

The Mediterranean Dialogue forum was launched in 1994 with the aim of enhancing regional security. It groups NATO states with seven non-NATO countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

NATO is keen to step up security cooperation with Mauritania given al Qaeda militant activity in the country.