BAMAKO: The Mauritanian army was fighting militants of Al-Qaeda`s north African wing Friday near the border with Mali`s Timbuktu region, a Malian security source told AFP.

"Clashes are taking place this moment between AQIM and the Mauritanian army on Mauritanian territory, in the area near the border with Mali`s Timbuktu region," said the security source in the region by telephone.

The Mauritanian military confirmed "clashes with heavy weapons" were taking place with militants from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

AQIM has been behind numerous attacks in the region, particularly in Algeria, Mauritania and Niger.

The group has also carried out several previous kidnappings of Westerners in the vast territory south of the Sahara stretching westwards from Mauritania across Mali and Niger.

AQIM militants are the prime suspects in the kidnapping Thursday of five French and two African workers from a uranium mining town in Niger, and were believed to be hiding in the Malian desert, officials said.

BDST: 0854 HRS, September 18, 2010