Nouakchott, Mauritania  - Members of the al-Qaeda terrorist group attacked an army patrol in the north of Mauritania, an official report released early Tuesday said.

"A patrol from our security forces resisted an attack in Tourine, 850 kilometres north of Nouakchott in the northern region of Tiris Zemmour," the report said, without stating the number of casualties.

"The assault was conducted by the extremist Salafite Group of Preaching and Combat affiliated with the al-Qaeda organization.

"The terrorist group was planning a massive attack north of the country," said the statement, exclusively released by the Mauritanian news agency.

According to military sources, the missing 12 bodies might indicate that they had been taken hostages.

Previously, security forces said that the 12 soldiers had been killed in an ambush by al-Qaeda Movement in Islamic Maghreb militants.

Security forces have sent dozens of troops to secure the area.

The patrol consisted of five cars, of which three were damaged by heavy weapons in the attack.

The patrol's cars were forced to take one route before they were subjected to heavy fire from RPG-7 launchers, a security source said.

Inside the first car was the leader of the brigade, who was killed with another 12 soldiers in his company, the source said.

One of the last two cars broke down, while the last car escaped, saving the soldiers on board. (dpa)