Mauritania names old hands,Islamists in new cabinet

By Vincent Fertey and Ibrahima Sylla

NOUAKCHOTT, May 12 (Reuters) -Mauritania's new prime minister named a cabinet late on Sunday, handing powerful posts to figures who served the authoritarian administration ousted in a 2005 coup and bringing in Islamist opposition politicians.

The broad-based government is the latest step by President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi to consolidate his political and parliamentary power base as the arid Saharan country faces twin threats from al Qaeda attacks and soaring food prices.

Last week, Abdallahi named as his new prime minister Yahya Ahmed El Waghef, general secretary of the National Pact for Development and Democracy (PNDD-ADIL) party which Abdallahi created after coming to office last year.

Waghef brought back prominent politicians who served during the two-decade rule of Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, who was overthrown in a military coup in 2005.

Waghef kept around a third of the technocratic team of Zein Ould Zeidane, the former central bank chief and presidential hopeful whom Abdallahi initially appointed prime minister in return for his backing in an election run-off last year.

He left unchanged the strategic ministries of defence, and economy and finance, but named Mohamed Yehdhih Ould Moctar El Hacen, former president of Taya's party, as interior minister.

CHeikh El Avia Ould Mohamed Khouna, who was twice Taya's prime minister, became foreign minister.

Waghef gave the employment and higher education portfolios to members of Tawassoul, an Islamist opposition party officially recognised just last year after being banned for years by Taya.