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.

Nouakchott, Mauritania  - The Mauritanian military junta which took power on August 6 on Monday announced the formation of a new government, the Mauritanian news agency AMI reported.

The government is headed by Moulaye Ould Mohammed Laghdaf, the former ambassador of the north-west African desert country to Brussels.

Most of the 22 ministers were regarded as backers of the coup.

Nouakchott, Mauritania - The military junta that seized power in the north-western African nation of Mauritania promised "free and transparent" presidential elections Thursday, a day after its coup.

A date for the elections was not mentioned in a junta statement carried by the Mauritanian press agency AMI.

A "state council" under the leadership of presidential guard commander Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz seized power Wednesday after the arrests of President Sidi Ould Cheikh and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghf.

The coup came after the president sacked top military officers.