Mauritania leader Abdelaziz 'accidentally' shot - report

According to officials, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz is now being treated for a light injury at a military hospital in the capital, Nouakchott BBC reprted today.

Abdelaziz was in Malta just over a week ago to attend meetings of the 5plus5 Summit.

Communications Minister Hamdi Ould Mahjoub said on national TV that a military patrol had mistakenly opened fire on the presidential convoy.

Initially, Mauritanian radio reported that Mr Abdelaziz had escaped an assassination attempt.

The minister added that Abdelaziz, 55, was injured in the arm and that his life was not in danger.

"On his way back to Nouakchott, the presidential convoy was shot by a Mauritanian patrol as they did not recognise his convoy," Mahjoub said.

"The Mauritanian people can be reassured, the president is fine... He got out of the vehicle unassisted upon arrival at the hospital, where he walked in without difficulty."

The military hospital remains sealed off by security forces.