A 10-party opposition bloc in Mauritania on Saturday signed a charter rejecting any solution to the country's political crisis that does not involve President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz' departure.

The Coordination of Democratic Opposition (COD) also refused to take part in any election in which "transparency is not guaranteed."

A Mauritanian diplomat died after setting himself alight on Wednesday night, an act apparently linked to the recent death of his younger brother, a security source told Agence France Presse Thursday.

"The man sprayed his whole body with petrol before setting it alight, the fire completely consumed him in the street despite efforts of passers-by to save him," the security source said on condition of anonymity.

Seven people were killed Thursday when a military plane crashed during takeoff in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, an army source told Agence France Presse.

The plane crashed near a residential zone. Three of the victims are soldiers, two customs officials and two civilians, whose nationality is not yet known, the military source said on condition of anonymity.

An Islamist rebel group in northern Mali said Thursday it had freed three of seven Algerian diplomats kidnapped during the takeover of the city of Gao in April.

"We eventually agreed to free three of the seven hostages with us," said Adnan Abu Walid Sahraoui, spokesman for the Movement of Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), without specifying when they were released.

A former al-Qaida leader extradited to Mauritania in April after being arrested in Iran in 2002 has been released from custody, his family said Saturday.

Mahfoud Ould Waled was freed Thursday, a family member told Agence France Presse.

Mauritanian police fired teargas to break up a fresh opposition protest Friday calling for President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to step down, leaving many injured and at least five under arrest.

Youths gathered after Friday prayers in the Muslim majority country for the anti-regime protest called by the Coordination of Youths from the Opposition (CJO), which police broke up using teargas and batons.

A leader of the Tuareg rebel group that has declared an independent state in northern Mali said Monday that a first official meeting between the rebels and Malian authorities had gone well.

"We've had official contact with the Malian delegation that we can describe as positive," Hamma Ag Mahmoud, a member of the political branch of the Azawad National Liberation Movement (MNLA), told Agence France Presse after the meeting late Sunday in Mauritanian capital Nouakchott.

Libya's new rulers, under pressure from human rights groups, have vowed to put on trial Moammar Gadhafi's former spy chief before June elections if Mauritania extradites him as expected.

Fathi Baaja of the National Transitional Council said that trials of Gadhafi loyalists have so far lagged in Libya due to inadequate prison infrastructure and a paralyzed judiciary.

Libya said Wednesday Mauritania had agreed to hand over Moammar Gadhafi’s former spy chief for trial on home soil, turning down rival extradition requests from France and a war crimes court.

"We have obtained an agreement from Mauritania to deliver (Abdullah) Senussi to Libya where he will receive a fair trial. No date has been decided upon but it will be very soon," government spokesman Nasser al-Manaa said.

Libya's vice-premier said Monday his country was determined to have Moammar Gadhafi’s ex-spy chief, also wanted by the International Criminal Court, extradited to stand trial on home soil.

"We are determined to get (Abdullah) Senussi back, because this man has committed crimes against Libyans. He must answer to these in Libya, in front of Libyan courts," Mustafa Abu Shagur said on arrival in Mauritania where Senussi was arrested Friday.