DAKAR, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The terrorist group al-Qaida claimed responsibility for slaining a U.S. aid worker in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott this week, according to Al-Jazeera TV monitored here on Thursday.

    Citing a statement by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the Arab satellite TV station said Christopher Ervin Leggett, 39, was gunned down in an attempt to convert Muslims to Christianity on Tuesday.

    Mauritania, where the military junta and opposition politicians are still negotiating before the July 18 presidential election, has thrown a probe into the killing, with the Interior Ministry vowing to bring the criminals to justice.

    Senegal successfully brought the rival parties in neighboring Mauritania early in the month for the election to end the crisis, which was triggered by a military coup on Aug. 6. Al-Qaida is reportedly eyeing African countries in turmoil such as Somalia for new bases.