Nouakchott, Mauritania - Twenty Mauritanian soldiers were killed and twelve vehicles destroyed in the clashes last week on Malian territory with elements of the Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), according to a statement issued by AQIM and published Sunday by the private press agency Nouakchott-Info. The statement has not been independently confirmed, but the AQMI terrorist network has been using that channel to communicate.

The clashes occurred 24-25 June in the Wagadu forest, in western Mali.

The statement said the operation was conducted by 15 AQIM fighters, led by a Mauritanian named Khaled El Chinguitiet, and that the fighters seized a large number of small arms

The Mauritanian army said 15 AQMI fighters were killed in the clashes, but did not say 20 Mauritanian soldiers were killed.

Pana 05/07/2011