1 killed in miners' clashes with National Guard Forces

Workers from Mauritanian Copper Mines (MCC) company on striki in Ajoujit city One worker was killed and six others were injured in violent clashes that took place in the headquarters of Mauritania's Copper Mines Company (MCM) located in Akjoujt city (250km north of capital Nouakchott). The victim was identified as Mohammed Ould Meshzouvi, who died shortly after reaching hospital, medical sources said.
MCM workers have been holding a strike at the company's headquarters since last Wednesday, demanding an improvement in their social conditions and the implementation of terms listed in an agreement signed last December between the workers' representatives and the MCM administration.
Some workers told Arabstoday that the National Guard Forces attacked the workers early on Sunday morning and brutally cracked down on demonstrators with tear gas and baton blows.
The General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers (CGTM) swiftly condemned the attack in a statement issued on the same day.
"The CGTM condemns this barbaric act of the National Guard Forces which take their instructions from the public authorities, that once again chose to side with the multinational MCM which didn't only plunder the country's wealth, but also deprived the workers of their legitimate rights," said the CGTM.
"We reaffirm our unlimited solidarity with the MCM workers during these painful circumstances of their struggle, and we urge all political and social powers in the country to show greater support for the legitimate rights of these workers," The statement added.
The CGTM vowed that the dead worker's rights will never be wasted, and called on Mauritanian authorities to reveal whoever was responsible for this incident and hold him accountable.
"All those responsible for what happened have to remember that this crime will not go unpunished, and we need an independent investigation into the incident to determine those responsible for this crime and bring them to justice," the statement said.