French MP apologises for Mauritanian slur

French MP Noël Mamère has apologised after accusing Mauritanian President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz of supporting drug trafficking. The parliamentarian released a statement on Thursday, claiming his remarks to French media had been “exploited” by political and tribal elements inside Mauritania. Mamère, who is also a member of the European Parliament, said his comment referred to the Mauritanian authorities’ failure to curb trafficking – “much like in Europe, letting the big fish of the mafia through the net,” he said. Mamère admitted that he "probably unfairly" mentioned the Mauritanian President when referring to a national problem. French lawyer Eric Diamantis, representing Ould Abdel Aziz, said the French Green MP 's remarks were designed to “destabilise” Mauritania. The lawyer told Radio France Internationale (RFE) on Thursday morning that originally he had been instructed to sue Mamère for slander.