DAKAR, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Four Spanish nationals working for an NGO were taken hostage on Sunday evening some 150 km north of Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital, the African News Agency reported.

It is the first time that Spanish nationals have been abducted in Mauritania.

The four Spanish nationals including a woman were in a convoy of five vehicles before they were intercepted by turbaned youths.

The Spanish hostages were driven to an unknown destination while the rest of the convoys were allowed to go ahead to Nouakchott, the report said.

Army units were dispatched on the ground but until now, no official communication has been made.

Mauritania has been a target of the Maghreb Al-Qaeda network since 2005.