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Mauritania votes in landmark poll | Mauritania votes in landmark poll |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Mauritanians have voted for a new president in the first fully democratic election since independence in 1960. | |
It marked a final stage of transition to civilian rule after a military coup in 2005. Power has never changed hands at the ballot box in Mauritania before. | |
There is no clear favourite among the 19 contenders and a second round of voting looks likely. | |
The coup leader, who is standing down, said the poll marked the moment Mauritanians "come of age". | |
Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, whose military council took power in August 2005, said he had a great sense of pride because it was the first time that Mauritanians were choosing their leaders in a free and fair way. | Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, whose military council took power in August 2005, said he had a great sense of pride because it was the first time that Mauritanians were choosing their leaders in a free and fair way. |
Early estimates suggest a high turnout of about 70%. | |
PRESIDENTIAL POLL 19 candidates 2,400 polling stations1.1m voters300 observers Democratic dawn Provisional results are not expected until Monday. | |
Keeping the military out of power is seen as a key issue for a country which has seen numerous coups and attempted coups since independence from France. | |
Mauritania seems to have gone further politically in the last two years than it has in the rest of its history, reports the BBC's Richard Hamilton from the capital, Nouakchott. | |
Col Vall has changed the constitution so that a president can only run for two terms, has improved human rights and brought democracy to this desert country, our correspondent says. | Col Vall has changed the constitution so that a president can only run for two terms, has improved human rights and brought democracy to this desert country, our correspondent says. |
Before the most recent coup, Mauritania spent 21 years under the iron grip of former President Ahmed Taya and elections in those days were regarded as a sham, he reports. | Before the most recent coup, Mauritania spent 21 years under the iron grip of former President Ahmed Taya and elections in those days were regarded as a sham, he reports. |
Mauritania is home to a number of different racial groups and many people were expected to vote along ethnic lines. | |
Candidates include former ministers but no members of the outgoing military government. | |
| Three candidates were tipped to do well:
|
If no candidate wins 50% a second round will be held on 25 March. | |
Our correspondent says there is a sense of excitement in Nouakchott as no-one knows who will become the next president. | Our correspondent says there is a sense of excitement in Nouakchott as no-one knows who will become the next president. |
And some voters had still not decided who to support. | And some voters had still not decided who to support. |
"They all make promises and then do nothing. I don't know who to trust, black or white. Only God knows," one woman told Reuters news agency. | "They all make promises and then do nothing. I don't know who to trust, black or white. Only God knows," one woman told Reuters news agency. |
Unity | Unity |
Another key issue is how to unite an ethnically diverse population, which includes Arabs, Berbers and sub-Saharan Africans. | Another key issue is how to unite an ethnically diverse population, which includes Arabs, Berbers and sub-Saharan Africans. |
While many presidential hopefuls come from the ruling Arab elite, one candidate represents descendants of slaves. | While many presidential hopefuls come from the ruling Arab elite, one candidate represents descendants of slaves. |
Despite a ban on slavery in 1980, human rights groups say the phenomenon still exists in the country. | Despite a ban on slavery in 1980, human rights groups say the phenomenon still exists in the country. |
Other major campaign issues have been how to manage the country's new oil reserves and the Islamic republic's decision to recognise Israel. | Other major campaign issues have been how to manage the country's new oil reserves and the Islamic republic's decision to recognise Israel. |
In February last year, Mauritania started pumping millions of barrels of oil from offshore reserves, though people have still to see any benefits. | In February last year, Mauritania started pumping millions of barrels of oil from offshore reserves, though people have still to see any benefits. |
In 1999, Mauritania hit the headlines when it became one of only three Arab nations to recognise Israel. | In 1999, Mauritania hit the headlines when it became one of only three Arab nations to recognise Israel. |
That position was the result of an increasingly close relationship with the United States, which sees the region around Mauritania as a possible breeding-ground for Islamic extremists. That is why the US will be watching the poll closely. | That position was the result of an increasingly close relationship with the United States, which sees the region around Mauritania as a possible breeding-ground for Islamic extremists. That is why the US will be watching the poll closely. |