Mauritanian soldiers killed six north African Al-Qaeda members during an attack on a southern army base earlier this week, the military said Thursday, lowering the previously-stated toll of 20.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) launched an assault on the base near the town of Bassiknou close to the Malian border on Tuesday, prompting a counter-attack by soldiers.

The Mauritanian army originally said 20 AQIM members were killed, disputed by the group which said it had lost two men.

The AMI news agency quoted Thursday an army statement saying six had died and there was reason to believe "many" had been injured.

A medical source said four Mauritanian soldiers were hospitalised following the fighting.

On June 24, the Mauritanian army destroyed an AQIM base during a raid in the Wagadou forest in northeastern Mali.

The military said the base had housed heavy anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons which posed a threat to the country, reporting the deaths of 15 AQIM members and two Mauritanian soldiers.

AQIM, which has its roots in Algeria, has camps in Mali which it uses as a launchpad to carry out armed attacks and kidnappings in the Sahel desert region where the group is also involved in arms and drugs trafficking.

The withdrawal of Mauritanian troops from Mali two months ago has been followed by the establishment of new AQIM units near the border.

Last month the neighbours agreed to lead a joint military operation to thwart the group's expansion.

The four nations most affected by AQIM operations -- Algeria, Mauritania, Mali and Niger -- work closely together on security and military issues in efforts to crack down on the Islamic extremist movement's activities.

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