Suicide attack foiled in Mauritania

A senior military official said that the attack was carried out by an al-Qaeda offshoot in North Africa.

There were no reported deaths in the attack, aside from that of the attacker.

The strike came two days after al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) released two Spanish hostagesit had held captive in Mali for nine months.

A ransom was reportedly paid to secure the release of the pair.