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Mauritania gunmen target embassy Mauritania gunmen target embassy
(10 minutes later)
Unidentified gunmen have opened fire on the Israeli embassy in Mauritania, witnesses and officials have said.Unidentified gunmen have opened fire on the Israeli embassy in Mauritania, witnesses and officials have said.
Six men traded fire with embassy guards before shouting "Allah Akbar" (God is great) as they fled the scene, the Associated Press reports.Six men traded fire with embassy guards before shouting "Allah Akbar" (God is great) as they fled the scene, the Associated Press reports.
Some people were wounded, police and emergency services told Reuters.Some people were wounded, police and emergency services told Reuters.
In December four French tourists were killed while picnicking in Mauritania. The government blamed the incident on Islamist militants. On Christmas Eve four French tourists were killed while picnicking in Mauritania. The government blamed the incident on Islamist militants.
At least nine people were arrested in Mauritania in connection with the earlier attack, which occurred in Aleg, about 250km (160 miles) east of the capital, Nouakchott. Israel's ambassador to Mauritania, Boaz Bismuth, said that no embassy staff had been hurt in Friday's shooting.
"At 0220 this morning, there was shooting at the Israeli embassy in Nouakchott. All the embassy staff, Israeli and Mauritanian, are safe," he told Reuters.
"I have received many phone calls from Mauritanian friends who are very concerned. That is the only positive thing in a very sad night," he said.
Mauritania is one of the few Arab League countries that has diplomatic relations with Israel.
At least nine people were arrested in Mauritania in connection with the attack on the French tourists, which occurred in Aleg, about 250km (160 miles) east of the capital, Nouakchott.
Prosecutors said they were thought to belong to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - an Algeria-based group formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat.Prosecutors said they were thought to belong to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - an Algeria-based group formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat.
Authorities in the west African country of Guinea-Bissau later said that they had arrested five more Mauritanians over the killings.Authorities in the west African country of Guinea-Bissau later said that they had arrested five more Mauritanians over the killings.
The attack - a rare event in the south of Mauritania - led the French organisers of the Lisbon-Dakar Rally to cancel the event due to security concerns.The attack - a rare event in the south of Mauritania - led the French organisers of the Lisbon-Dakar Rally to cancel the event due to security concerns.