Al-Jazeera television is reporting that al-Qaida's North African branch has claimed responsibility for the murder of an American aid worker in Mauritania this week.

The Arab satellite television station reported Thursday that it received an audio statement from al-Qaida of the Islamic Maghreb.

Photo allegedly shows body of American man shot in Nouakchott by a group of youths, 23 Jun 2009

The network said group claimed it killed 39-year-old Christopher Leggett for allegedly trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.

The terrorist group was quoted as saying "two knights of the Islamic Maghreb" killed Christopher Leggett "for his Christianizing activities."

The statement could not be independently verified.

Witnesses said gunmen shot Leggett, a husband and father of four children, multiple times Tuesday in the capital of Nouakchott.

Friends said Leggett worked for an aid group that provided computer classes for local residents.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.