French embassy targeted in Mauritania attack

[tocqueville]

Source: Reuters

By Vincent Fertey

NOUAKCHOTT, Aug 8 (Reuters) - A suicide bomber blew himself up and slightly wounded two guards outside the French embassy in Mauritania's capital on Saturday, a French embassy source said.

The source said no group had yet come forward to claim responsibility for the attack outside the embassy walls.

It took place three days after Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who toppled Mauritania's first democratically elected leader in a coup last year, was sworn in as president of the Islamic state promising to make the fight against al Qaeda a priority.

Defeated opponents denounced his poll victory last month as a fraud, but former colonial power France said it was ready to re-engage with the Saharan country, applauding his tough anti-terrorist stance

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL8672694

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Bomber kills self, two guards slightly wounded (a passer by too)

* Attack comes three days after Aziz swearing-in

* French had welcomed Aziz's tough anti-Qaeda stance