Mauritania Sentences 7 over Qaida Connection

A Mauritanian court has sentenced six Mauritanians and a Tunisian to prison terms for their connection to al-Qaida's North African offshoot.

The Nouakchott criminal court late Sunday sentenced two young Mauritanians for their membership to "a terrorist organization" -- without naming al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb -- and condemned them to five years in prison and a 500,000 Ouguiyas (1,250 Euro) fine.

Four other Mauritanians and a Tunisian landed two-year jail sentences for "services rendered" to the militant group, including providing communications capability.

According to prosecutors these materials permitted attacks against targets in Mauritania.