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Mauritanian opposition slams former junta leader's victory as 'electoral coup'

July 20, 2009 Edition 1

NOUAKCHOTT: The former head of the junta that toppled Mauritania's first freely elected leader has an unassailable lead in the presidential election. But his opponents say the vote was marred by fraud and an "electoral coup d'etat".

With 79 percent of the ballots counted, the country's independent electoral commission said former coup leader Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz had 52 percent of the vote, compared with nearly 17 percent for parliament speaker Messaoud Ould Boulkheir and close to 14 percent for veteran opposition leader Ahmed Ould Daddah.

In a joint statement, the main opposition candidates, Boulkheir, Daddah and Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, who led a 2005 junta, rejected the results, saying the ballot was rigged. Speaking at a news conference, Boulkheir accused Aziz of falsifying identity and voter cards.

"We ... call on the international community to create a commission to ... expose this manipulation," he said.

None of the several hundred international observers has released findings on whether the vote was free and fair.

Aziz seized power in a coup in August. - Sapa-AP