Fighting has erupted in Mauritania, in an apparent coup attempt against the country's pro-West leader. The al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya TV stations reported clashes and tank cannon fire around the presidential palace in what they described as a failed coup attempts. The fighting follows a crackdown on alleged Islamic extremists by President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya.Relative calm returned after about two hours of fighting, the state-run news agency in neighbouring Morocco reported.
The al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya TV stations reported clashes and tank cannon fire around the presidential palace in what they described as a failed coup attempts.
The fighting follows a crackdown on alleged Islamic extremists by President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya.
Relative calm returned after about two hours of fighting, the state-run news agency in neighbouring Morocco reported.
It blamed the alleged coup attempt on armoured units within Mauritania's military.
Mauritania's government has cracked down on Islamic activists since the Iraq war, initially to try to prevent any Islamic shows of support for Iraq.
Dozens of Islamic leaders were arrested last month for allegedly using mosques to recruit young men as fighters.
Mauritania is one of only three Arab nations to hold diplomatic relations with Israel.
PA