Iranian president arrives in Mauritania

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott on Sunday. The Iranian president arrived in the African country after participating in the 66th UN General Assembly meeting in New York. Upon arrival at Nouakchott airport, the Iranian president was received by his Mauritanian counterpart. According to officials, the visit is aimed at the expansion of ties and cooperation between the two countries. The Iranian president is due to meet senior officials of the African country, including his counterpart, in a bid to exchange views on regional and international developments and explore avenues for the further bolstering of mutual cooperation. Following his talks in Nouakchott, the Iranian president and his accompanying delegation will visit Sudan on the second leg of their African tour. Iran has long sought to boost ties and cooperation with the African countries in a bid to help them with development. Before leaving Tehran for New York, Ahmadinejad told reporters that "after the trip to Venezuela, we will travel to Mauritania in response to the trip taken by the country's president to Iran and will meet with the Mauritanian president". "In all these three countries, international developments will be discussed," Ahmadinejad concluded. The visit to Venezuela was cancelled yesterday due to President Hugo Chavez's ailment. The Venezuelan president is recovering from cancer treatment.