More than 390 politicians, officials, journalists, diplomats and even businessmen have had they phones tapped in Mauritania, a source revealed on Friday. According to a Mauritanian news agency, this operation was not legal but aimed at tracking criminal and terrorist activities which would threaten national security. The news agency said the operation went too far as the whole family of the Mauritanian President was spied on. A source revealed that the operation did not tape any suspected criminal or terrorist – which was the official reason for tapping so many people.