Nouakchott/Tel Aviv - Gunmen opened fire at the Israeli
embassy in Mauritanian capital Nouakchott before dawn Friday, Israeli
officials said.
The gunmen shouted 'God is Great' in Arabic and engaged in a brief
gunbattle with Mauritanian soldiers guarding the embassy, Israeli
Ambassador to Mauritania Boaz Bismut said.
He said no one was injured at the embassy. But one person was
injured outside, 'apparently nearby.'
The Israeli ambassador said the gunfire at about 2:30 am woke
him and his staff up.
The attack came after widespread demonstrations in the Islamic
state against Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip, which he said was
widely covered in the local media in a 'blunt and I would even say
exaggerated' way.
The protesters demanded the West African nation cut off its
diplomatic ties with Israel.
'All the people at the embassy, both Mauritanians and Israelis,
are ok,' Bismut told Israel Radio.
'The gunfire was heard very well,' he said, adding 'it lasted
several minutes.'
He later told Israel Army Radio 'Israel and Mauritania have had
full diplomatic relations since 1999 - both countries understand the
severity of the incident.'
An Israeli delegation was scheduled to travel to Mauritania
Friday morning to evaluate the security at the embassy.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni telephoned Bismut and Foreign
Ministry Director Aharon Abramowitz said Israel's ties with
Mauritania were 'important' to the Jewish state. He expressed hope
they would be broadened further in the future, as a result of the
renewed peace process with the Palestinians.
The Lisbon-Dakar Rally was cancelled due to security concerns
following the December 24 killing of four French tourists while
picnicking in Mauritania. The government blamed the incident on
Islamist militants.
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