Gunman opens fire on Israeli Embassy

At least one gunman opened fire on the Israeli Embassy in Mauritania today, setting off a battle with guards that wounded one person.

The Israeli ambassador to the African nation said the wounded person was a Mauritanian who lived nearby and no embassy employees were hurt.

Witnesses said the attack had been carried out by a group of men who shouted: "God is Great!" in Arabic before opening fire on the embassy in the early hours of the morning.

Mauritanian officials issued no immediate comment.

Israel has had diplomatic relations with Mauritania, a predominantly Muslim member of the Arab League, since 1999.

The Israeli ambassador, Boaz Bismut, told Israel Radio that the shooting attack followed furious protests this week over Israel's policies in the Gaza Strip.

Yael Ravia-Zadok, a spokeswoman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, said a team of investigators from the ministry would leave for Mauritania today to investigate.