15/09/2008
Mauritanian army units are presently clashing with armed groups affiliated with al Qaeda near Ghalawiya, Nouakchott press agency ANI reported on Monday (September 15th). A large mobilisation of security forces began this weekend after reports of car bomb threats and intelligence that elements of al Qaeda were planning to carry out attacks in the capital. Nine suspected terrorists were arrested by security services in Nouakchott over the weekend.
Also on Monday morning, gunmen in the northern Zouerate region attacked a Mauritanian army patrol and caused an unknown number of casualties, an unidentified security source was quoted by Reuters as saying.