Mauritania authorities have arrested seven anti-slavery activists after a violent protest to highlight the destiny of two young girls. Detained included the leader of the Mauritanian anti-slavery body the Initiative for the Resurgence of Abolitionism Movement Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid. "Seven of our comrades have been handed over to the legal authorities," middle-east-online.com quotes Mohamed Ould Mahmoud of the group as saying. The activists demanding the liberation of two girl slaves aged nine and 13, have been accused of attacking the security forces, injuring six policemen, and ransacking a police station. Mauritania abolished slavery in 1981 but it still spread in some parts of the country.