Former Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was released by police early Monday after undergoing week-long questioning over suspected embezzlement, his lawyer said. "He has not been charged but his passport, which was taken on his arrest, has not been returned," said attorney Taghioullah Aida, adding that Aziz had also been banned from leaving Nouakchott, the capital. Aziz, 63, stepped down in August 2019 after serving two terms as president, succeeded by Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, his former right-hand man and ex-defence minister. em-siu/thm/ri/lc