Brussels - The European Union on Wednesday sent a further warning to the leaders of August's coup in Mauritania, indicating that the bloc could take unspecified action if democratic rule is not restored.

Such measures could include a suspension of non-humanitarian aid, officials in Brussels said.

Beijing - A range of non-tariff barriers to market access in China reflect a growing "economic nationalism" that is harming the interests of European firms and local consumers, a European Union business group said in a report released Tuesday.

"European companies are generally optimistic about their business in China, but their concerns remain about market access, transparency, intellectual property rights and environmental sustainability," the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said.

"Economic nationalism appears to be a growing concern," said the chamber's annual "position paper," which was based on a survey of many of its 1,400 members.

Brussels  - The positive outcome of Angola's first parliamentary elections in 16 years shows that the country is consolidating its democracy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Monday.

"After such a devastating war as the one Angola suffered, these elections are a step towards the consolidation of a multi-party democracy, a fundamental element for peace, stability, and socio- economic development," the head of the European Union's executive arm said in a statement.

The EU sent an election observation team to the country, and its final report was still due.

Belgrade- The opposition ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party (SRS) moved a step closer to disintegrating Monday when its ousted acting chief, Tomislav Nikolic, formed a new parliamentary faction.

Nikolic resigned Friday night as under pressure from party leader Vojislav Seselj, who has been on trial at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
(ICTY) since 2003.

Brussels - The European Anti-Fraud Office (Olaf) said Monday it had launched its own probe into reports that an EU official leaked valuable trade secrets concerning Chinese companies.

"OLAF has opened a case file today and is assessing the information," said an official from the independent body, which was set up in 1999 in a bid to boost transparency in Brussels.

The statement from Olaf follows the news that the European Commission had decided to open its own investigation into the case on Friday.

Avignon, France - The European Union must push for closer ties with Belarus and Georgia and conflict resolution in Moldova if it is to counter Russia's growing assertiveness in eastern Europe, EU foreign ministers said Saturday.

"It is a very good time to rethink our relations with Belarus. Belarus is sending desperate signals to the West," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.