Mauritanian President flown abroad for treatment after shooting

Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was Sunday evacuated to France aboard an air ambulance, a day after he was shot in what the Presidency called an accident, PANA learned from reliable sources.

President Aziz was 'lightly wounded' Saturday after his convoy was shot at by soldiers at a military camp located about 30 kilometers from the capital, Nouakchott, government officials said.

President Aziz was treated at the military hospital in Nouakchott shortly after the shooting, and he was said to be fine by Communication Minister Hamdi Ould Mahjoub.

Some unofficial sources said the shooting was an assassination attempt on the President.
-0- PANA SAS/JSG/JEN/SEG 14Oct2012