Twelve Mauritanian soldiers reported dead, missing in terrorist ambush

2008-09-16

At least 12 Mauritanian soldiers were killed along with a civilian guide on Monday (September 15th), when armed terrorists ambushed their convoy at Aklet Tourine, about 700k north of the capital, local and international press reported. Assailants targeted a column of five army vehicles; three were disabled on the field, while two others escaped the assault to transport wounded troops 80 kilometres south to a hospital in Zouerate, Nouakchott press agency ANI reported. Reinforcements who later arrived later at the scene found that "the assailants had taken everything away with them, including vehicles and men, dead or alive," making it difficult to determine whether all the victims are dead or kidnapped, AFP reported.

While no group has yet claimed responsibility Mauritanian state-run news agency AMI said in a press release that the attack was perpetrated by al-Qaeda-linked terrorists, but reported no toll

In a statement published Tuesday by independent daily Journal Tahalil, the National Front for the Defence of Democracy (FNDD) said that while this latest aggression occurred in an area known for similar acts, "armed forces serving in these zones are not adequately equipped to perform their mission". The FNDD--an alliance of five Mauritanian political parties opposed to the military coup—added, "More sophisticated ordinance is reserved for coups and the repression of the people."