Abdel Aziz Says Hes Mauritanias President, Rivals Disagree

The government of Mauritania announces that General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has won the desert nation's presidential election in the first round.

The result must still be confirmed by Mauritania's Constitutional Court.

Aziz ousted Mauritania's first democratically elected leader in a coup last year.

The rival candidates include Ahmed Ould Daddah, a veteran opposition figure; Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, another former coup leader; and Messaoud Ould Boulkheir, a politician who has spearheaded the challenge to last year's coup.

Earlier on Sunday, a spokesman for the opposition candidates, said electoral lists had been tampered with and voters had used fake ballot papers and identity cards during the poll to add to Abdel Aziz's tally.

Interior Minister Mohamed Ould Rzeizim announced on Sunday (July 19) that Aziz won 52.6 percent of the poll - 409,100 votes.

Aziz defended his victory.

[Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mauritanian President Elect]:
"I believe that the candidates who talk about fraud cannot give concrete examples or proof (of fraud)."

Neither the United Nations nor the European Union, which has cut aid due to the coup, sent election observers to Mauritania.

But the African Union team there said turnout was high and it called the election transparent on Saturday evening.

[Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mauritanian President Elect]:
"I thank you, all the Mauritanian people, for this election which has been judged as free, transparent and democratic, and I hope that through this election, we will put Mauritania back on the road to development."

Abdel Aziz has promised food and fuel price cuts, calculated to appeal to many Mauritanians.

Forty percent live below the poverty line in a nation that exports fish and iron ore but hopes to increase off-shore oil production.

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