Thirteen members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, including eight on death row, were moved from the Mauritania capital's central jail to a secret location, security sources said Tuesday.
Security sources and relatives of the prisoners said they were transferred Sunday night by armed, masked soldiers, without explanation.
Authorities refused to comment.
Among the eight sentenced to death, three had been found guilty of involvement in the murders of four French tourists in Aleg in south Mauritania in December 2007.
The other five are serving sentences ranging from ten to 15 years.
Relatives of the prisoners staged a sit-in outside the prison on Monday and Tuesday, demanding information on the whereabouts of their family members.
Local media reported Tuesday that "prisoners considered to be dangerous were taken by helicopter to a military prison in the north of the country."
Mauritania is one of the countries worst affected by Al-Qaeda's north AFrican wing, which has its roots in Algeria and is based in north Mali from where it launches attacks, kidnappings and drug trafficking operations in the region.
Security sources and relatives of the prisoners said they were transferred Sunday night by armed, masked soldiers, without explanation.
Authorities refused to comment.
Among the eight sentenced to death, three had been found guilty of involvement in the murders of four French tourists in Aleg in south Mauritania in December 2007.
The other five are serving sentences ranging from ten to 15 years.
Relatives of the prisoners staged a sit-in outside the prison on Monday and Tuesday, demanding information on the whereabouts of their family members.
Local media reported Tuesday that "prisoners considered to be dangerous were taken by helicopter to a military prison in the north of the country."
Mauritania is one of the countries worst affected by Al-Qaeda's north AFrican wing, which has its roots in Algeria and is based in north Mali from where it launches attacks, kidnappings and drug trafficking operations in the region.
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