Posted on Monday 10 August 2009

Murtala Mohamed Kamara, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
The French authorities have condemned a suicide bombing at its embassy in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott which left three people injured. No group has so far claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack but Mauritanian authorities point fingers at Al-Qaeda with network in North-West Africa.
Mauritania map
According to a BBC report, the suicide bomber had been wearing a belt packed with explosives which he detonated at 1900 GMT outside the embassy leaving him dead instantly and three other embassy staffs injured.

A statement by the French Foreign ministry condemning the attacks said "France reiterates its determination to fight against terrorism together with the authorities and the people of Mauritania."

The once peaceful North West African country of Mauritania has witness violence in recent times. Reuters quoted a senior Mauritania security official as saying that "An attempted suicide bombing is a new event in Mauritania, we have to be wary of this new type of threat."

The official who spoke on condition of anonymity according to the news agency said "From now on we will have to take extra security measures, but even so, there is no such thing as zero risk."

Al-Qaeda in the Magreb has been active in recent times. The group has held hostage of several Westerners and were responsible for killing of senior security officials in that region. A terror expert said the group cannot be ‘overlook’ in the fight against world terror.
africanews