Mauritania ALERT: Cameraman assaulted by trade unionists

Mohamed Ould Moustapha, a cameraman with the local Mauritanian office of the Qatari television network, Al Jazeera, was assaulted on October 8, 2008 by trade union activists in Nouakchott.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) correspondent reported that the assault was caused by an alleged disagreement, which degenerated into offensive exchanges between the two parties, on Al Jazeera’s coverage of the activities of the Mauritanian forces opposed to the August 6, 2008 coup. No other reasons were given for the attack.

At the time of the incident, the technician was covering a press conference organized by six trade union groups opposed to the coup d’état of  August 6, 2008.

Media Foundation for West Africa