Arrests over Mauritanian attack

Police in Mauritania say they have arrested at least seven people over last week's attack on the Israeli embassy in the capital, Nouakchott.

Officials said the suspects included an Algerian citizen, and were arrested separately over the past few days.

They are said to have been in possession of firearms and stolen cars.

A North African al-Qaeda group has reportedly claimed responsibility. Mauritania is one of the few Arab League members to recognise Israel.

No Israelis were injured in the attack but three French citizens were hurt.

In December, four French tourists were killed by suspected Islamist militants in Aleg, about 250km (160 miles) east of Nouakchott.

Prosecutors said they were thought to belong to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - an Algeria-based group formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).

The attack led the French organisers of the Lisbon-Dakar Rally to cancel the event due to security concerns.