10/02/2008
Mauritanian President Sidi Mohamed Cheikh Ould Abdellahi told Reuters on Saturday (February 9th) that there is no terrorist organisation in the country and said the three recent terrorist attacks are the work of a small group of foreign-trained individuals. "There is no structured terrorist organisation implanted in this country," Reuters quote Abdellahi as saying. "There are just a few wretches who have acted recently at a time of great media interest."
Two attacks in late December and one on February 1st targeted French tourists, Mauritanian soldiers and guards at the Israeli embassy.
Speaking during a two-day visit to Mauritania on Friday (February 8th) French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner pledged to compensate the country for the losses it suffered due to the cancellation of the Dakar Rally. "It's true that we have damaged the image of Mauritania as well as its tourism economy, but we will ask businessmen and French investors to return to Mauritania," Kouchner said, adding that France would increase its co-operation with Mauritania on security matters. The rally was cancelled amid security concerns