Mauritania, which saw a military coup topple its government last week, has now received a warning from al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb. Here's some of the story out of the BBC:
As you can see, this General(pictured above) is dead set on rooting out the likes of al Qaeda in Mauritania and although the U.S. isn't real happy about his coup kicking out a democratic government, that news has to be music to the ears. But, it certainly isn't what al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb wanted to hear so al Qaeda is urging the people to resist this new government.
Now, why the people of Mauritania who have already suffered from al Qaeda attacks would want to throw their support for those clowns is beyond me but afterall, this whole region of northern Africa is a donnybrooke. It's like the wild, wild west used to be.
It will be interesting to see if the General here will have any luck against al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb or if he will end up abandoning that crusade for just trying to save his own ass. Either way, it's nice to see al Qaeda back on their heels anytime, anywhere.
An internet message purporting to be from the North African wing of al-Qaeda has urged Mauritanians to take up arms against their coup leaders.
Last week, General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz and other military officers toppled the country's first democratically-elected president.
Gen Abdelaziz said defeating extremism was one of his main priorities.
As you can see, this General(pictured above) is dead set on rooting out the likes of al Qaeda in Mauritania and although the U.S. isn't real happy about his coup kicking out a democratic government, that news has to be music to the ears. But, it certainly isn't what al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb wanted to hear so al Qaeda is urging the people to resist this new government.
Now, why the people of Mauritania who have already suffered from al Qaeda attacks would want to throw their support for those clowns is beyond me but afterall, this whole region of northern Africa is a donnybrooke. It's like the wild, wild west used to be.
It will be interesting to see if the General here will have any luck against al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb or if he will end up abandoning that crusade for just trying to save his own ass. Either way, it's nice to see al Qaeda back on their heels anytime, anywhere.
Al-Qaeda 'warning' for Mauritania
An internet message purporting to be from the North African wing of al-Qaeda has urged Mauritanians to take up arms against their coup leaders.
Last week, General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz and other military officers toppled the country's first democratically-elected president.
Gen Abdelaziz said defeating extremism was one of his main priorities.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is largely based in Algeria but has been blamed for attacks in Mauritania.
The government said it killed four French tourists last December, an incident that prompted the cancellation of the Paris-Dakar car rally.
It also blamed the group for attacking the Israeli embassy in the capital, Nouakchott, in February.
The internet message alleges that despite wide condemnation of the coup by Western governments, it would not have been possible without the approval of France, the United States and Israel.
The statement is apparently signed by the leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Abdelmalik Droukdal.
The BBC's James Copnall in Nouakchott says Mauritania is extremely poor, and its young people are increasingly radicalised.
In addition the country is almost entirely an empty desert, and the vast open spaces make it easy for illegal groups to avoid detection.
That is one of the reasons the US has funded the Mauritanian military, our reporter says - although that aid has been frozen following the coup.
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