afrol News, 14 May - Reporters Without Borders has condemned an attempted murder of the editor of the independent Arab-language daily, El Wattan, and radio presenter Mohamed Ould Zeine in Mauritania.

Mr Ould Zeine was allegedly attacked by two men with baseball bats and knives on the evening of 12 May. He reportedly suffered very serious injuries to his left hand.

According to RSF, Mr Ould Zeine received a call on his mobile phone after presenting the news on Radio Mauritania around midnight from an unknown caller who said one of his friends needed help.

“Mr Ould Zeine left the radio studios and headed to the national lycée when he saw two men armed with baseball bats get out of a car and come towards him,” the RSF statement said.

RSF said the attackers struck him on his legs and smashed his head against a wall at which caused him to faint, saying his assailants fled believing he was dead after the attack.

The journalists organisation urged the Mauritanian government to carry out a rigorous investigation to find those responsible for the attack. The violent assault against a journalist is said to be rare in Mauritania.

“Unless this investigation produces real results, we will have reason to be seriously worried about how journalists can do their job of informing the public in safety in the run-up to presidential elections on 6 June that will be decisive for the Mauritanian people,” RSF added.

Mr Ould Zeine has lodged an official complaint about the attack. Police, who are reported to have said they do not know the motives or the identity of his alleged attackers, promised to do their utmost to find those responsible.

By staff writer

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