Mauritania strikes at militants on Mali border

Nouakchott, 18 Sept-(ANA)-There have been clashes between Mauritanian troops and al-Qaeda militants in the Sahara desert in northern Mali, reports say.

A dozen militants are said to have been killed in the fighting in Raz-el-Ma, 250km (155 miles) west of Timbuktu.

Earlier, officials said Mauritania had launched a military operation against the militants along their Mali border.

It is not clear if the operation is linked to the kidnapping in Niger of seven foreigners earlier this week.

Mauritania sent combat aircraft into the battle in northern Mali, an Algerian security source is quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. (ANA)

FA/ANA/18 September 2010-------