Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz flew to France for medical treatment Sunday, a day after he was shot and lightly wounded in what government officials call an accident.

Mr. Aziz appeared on television from his hospital bed before flying out to Paris, saying he was in good health and that the incident was “committed in error.”

The president was shot Saturday while traveling in a convoy near the capital, Nouakchott. Officials say the shooting happened because a security patrol along the road did not immediately recognize the president's convoy.

But some local reports say the president was targeted by a militant group while traveling to Tweila, north of the capital, where he spends most weekends.

President Abdel Aziz came to power in a 2008 military coup and went on to win the 2009 presidential election.