Mauritania
Western Sahara deal 'urgent': UN envoy
Mar 21, 2013 10:18 EDT
UN envoy Christopher Ross said on Thursday that a solution to the decades-old Western Sahara conflict was "more urgent than ever" after meeting top Moroccan officials on a visit aimed at reviving stalled peace talks.
Qaeda says French hostage executed in Mali
Mar 20, 2013 16:16 EDT
Paris was scrambling Wednesday to verify a claim by Al-Qaeda's north African branch that it has executed a French hostage in retaliation for France's military intervention in Mali.
UN Western Sahara envoy kicks off new tour
Mar 20, 2013 13:31 EDT
The UN envoy on the Western Sahara Christopher Ross met Moroccan officials in Rabat on Wednesday at the start of a new two-week tour of the region aimed at reviving peace talks to end the decades-old conflict.
Al-Qaeda says French hostage killed in Mali
Mar 19, 2013 22:31 EDT
A French hostage has been executed in Mali, a man claiming to be a spokesman for Al-Qaeda in North Africa told Mauritania's ANI news agency.
Key nations press Morocco, W. Sahara rebels over deadlock
Mar 19, 2013 13:50 EDT
A group of key countries on Tuesday pressed Morocco and Western Sahara rebels not to block efforts by a United Nations envoy to renew peace talks between the two.
Fifth French soldier killed in Mali conflict
Mar 17, 2013 18:00 EDT
A French corporal was killed tracking down jihadist fighters in their northern Mali mountain bastions, bringing to five the number of French deaths since Paris launched a military offensive in the country two months ago.
Fifth French soldier killed in Mali
Mar 17, 2013 08:11 EDT
A French corporal was killed tracking down jihadist fighters in their northern Mali mountain bastions, bringing to five the number of French deaths since the January 11 military intervention, officials said Sunday.
UN W. Sahara envoy to start new talks tour
Mar 15, 2013 13:17 EDT
UN envoy on the Western Sahara conflict, Christopher Ross, is to start a new tour next week in a bid to revive talks between Morocco and the Polisario Front, a UN spokesman said Friday.
Malians protest in Mauritania over abuses in homeland
Mar 11, 2013 15:20 EDT
Dozens of Malian Arabs and Tuaregs protested Monday in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott during a visit by Mali's president, calling for an end to rights abuses by soldiers in their homeland.
Mali war disrupts cocaine supply to Europe
Mar 11, 2013 11:59 EDT
France's surprise intervention in northern Mali against Islamist fighters involved in lucrative drug-running has disrupted cocaine supply to Europe but smugglers are already finding new routes, analysts said.
Mali media to strike over journalist's arrest
Mar 11, 2013 10:53 EDT
Mali's media announced on Monday the launch of a nationwide strike to protest against the arrest of a reporter by the war-torn country's intelligence services.
Qaeda source confirms leader slain, fuelling hostage fears
Mar 04, 2013 22:20 EST
An Al-Qaeda source has confirmed the death of one of the leaders of the organisation's north African wing, in the most significant success yet for the French-led operation against Islamist fighters in Mali.
Qaeda source confirms leader slain as families seek pause
Mar 04, 2013 17:18 EST
An Al-Qaeda source on Monday confirmed the death of one of the leaders of the organisation's north African wing, in the most significant success yet for the French-led operation against Islamist fighters in Mali.
Qaeda source confirms leader slain
Mar 04, 2013 11:51 EST
An Al-Qaeda source on Monday confirmed the death of one of the leaders of the organisation's north African wing, in the most significant success yet for the French-led operation against Islamist fighters in Mali.
Qaeda source confirms leader Abou Zeid slain
Mar 04, 2013 08:17 EST
An Al-Qaeda source on Monday confirmed the death of one of the leaders of the organisation's north African wing, in the most significant success yet for the French-led operation against Islamist fighters in Mali.
Al-Qaeda confirms Abou Zeid killed in Mali: report
Mar 04, 2013 06:17 EST
Al-Qaeda's branch in northern Africa on Monday confirmed that one of its senior leaders, Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, had been killed in northern Mali, a report said.
Chad says Islamist leader Belmokhtar killed in Mali
Mar 03, 2013 06:34 EST
Chad says its troops in northern Mali have killed Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the one-eyed Islamist leader who masterminded an assault on an Algerian gas plant in January that left 37 foreign hostages dead.
Islamist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar killed in Mali: Chad
Mar 03, 2013 01:38 EST
Chad says its troops in northern Mali have killed Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the one-eyed Islamist leader who masterminded an assault on an Algerian gas plant that left 37 foreign hostages dead in January.
Islamist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar killed: Chad
Mar 02, 2013 23:36 EST
Chad has said its troops in northern Mali killed the one-eyed Islamist leader who masterminded an assault on an Algerian gas plant that left 37 foreign hostages dead in January.
Chad says mastermind of Algeria bloodbath killed
Mar 02, 2013 21:59 EST
Chad said its troops in northern Mali on Saturday killed the one-eyed Islamist leader who masterminded an assault on an Algerian gas plant that left 37 foreign hostages dead in January.
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
| Islamic Republic of Mauritania
الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية
Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Islāmiyyah al-Mūrītāniyyah | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Motto: شرف إخاء عدل (Arabic) (English: Honor, Fraternity, Justice) | ||||||
| Anthem: National Anthem of Mauritania | ||||||
 | ||||||
| Capital (and largest city) | Nouakchott 18°09′N 15°58′W / 18.15°N 15.967°W | |||||
| Official languages | Arabic1 | |||||
| Demonym | Mauritanian | |||||
| Government | Military junta2 | |||||
| - | President | Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf | ||||
| Independence | from France | |||||
| - | Date | 28 November 1960 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 1,030,700 km2 (29th) 397,954 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | 0.03 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2009 estimate | 3,291,000[1] (135th) | ||||
| - | 1988 census | 1,864,236[2] | ||||
| - | Density | 3.2/km2 (221st) 8.2/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $6.232 billion[3] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $2,055[3] | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $3.161 billion[3] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $1,042[3] | ||||
| Gini (2000) | 39 (medium) | |||||
| HDI (2007) | ▲ 0.520[4] (medium) (154th) | |||||
| Currency | Ouguiya (MRO) | |||||
| Time zone | (UTC+0) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | not observed (UTC+0) | ||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| Internet TLD | .mr | |||||
| Calling code | 222 | |||||
| 1According to article 6 of Constitution: The national languages are Arabic, Pular, Soninke, and Wolof; the official language is Arabic 2Not recognized internationally. Deposed leaders, President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef, no longer have power as they were arrested by military forces. | ||||||
