France warns Mauritanian region is 'dangerous'

France's Foreign Ministry Friday issued a warrant for its citizens in Mauritania, urging them to leave the southern and eastern regions of the country, due to the the security threats imposed by rebel fighters in northern Mali. The warrant described the southern and eastern regions of Mali as "very dangerous," adding that French citizens living there should contact the French embassy in Nouakchott to prepare a secure exit for them from the cities located in these regions, "as the militant groups from north Mali could enter these cities at any time." The warrant also urged  French citizens not to move around within Nouakchott or any other Mauritanian city unless there is a serious reason to do so, and to avoid getting close to any military or security location, as those locations could be targeted by the militant groups. Several French citizens have been kidnapped or killed in the last few months by extremist Islamist groups in Niger and northern Mali, amid the political and security unrest witnessed there.