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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mauritanians vote for president | Mauritanians vote for president |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Mauritanians are awaiting the results of the country's first democratic presidential elections since winning independence from France in 1960. | Mauritanians are awaiting the results of the country's first democratic presidential elections since winning independence from France in 1960. |
| Interior ministry officials put voter turnout at about 60% - slightly down on the first round, held two weeks ago. | Interior ministry officials put voter turnout at about 60% - slightly down on the first round, held two weeks ago. |
| The two candidates are former cabinet minister Sidi Ould Sheikh Abdellahi and opposition figure Ahmed Ould Daddah. | The two candidates are former cabinet minister Sidi Ould Sheikh Abdellahi and opposition figure Ahmed Ould Daddah. |
| Both are members of the so-called White Moor elite and spent time in prison under previous administrations. | |
| Counting is under way, with final results expected later on Monday. | Counting is under way, with final results expected later on Monday. |
| The ballot, in which 1.1 million people were eligible to vote, marks the final stage of a programme to restore civilian rule following a military coup two years ago. | The ballot, in which 1.1 million people were eligible to vote, marks the final stage of a programme to restore civilian rule following a military coup two years ago. |
| Slavery issue | Slavery issue |
| Both candidates pledged tough measures against slavery, which was banned in 1981 but which still persists. | Both candidates pledged tough measures against slavery, which was banned in 1981 but which still persists. |
| Mauritania is an ethnically diverse mix of Arab and black Africans but historically the country's Black Moors have been slaves to the fairer-skinned ruling elite, the White Moors. | Mauritania is an ethnically diverse mix of Arab and black Africans but historically the country's Black Moors have been slaves to the fairer-skinned ruling elite, the White Moors. |
| Sheikh Abdellahi pledged "special legislation" criminalising slavery while his rival, Mr Daddah, promised compensation for slaves and penalties for law-breakers. | Sheikh Abdellahi pledged "special legislation" criminalising slavery while his rival, Mr Daddah, promised compensation for slaves and penalties for law-breakers. |
| Sheikh Abdellahi is supported by a coalition of 18 groups previously loyal to the regime of the ousted authoritarian leader, President Ahmed Taya. | Sheikh Abdellahi is supported by a coalition of 18 groups previously loyal to the regime of the ousted authoritarian leader, President Ahmed Taya. |
| Mr Daddah, an economist and brother, unsuccessfully ran against Mr Taya in 1992 and 2003. | |
| Mr Taya was deposed by Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, whose military council took power in August 2005. | Mr Taya was deposed by Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, whose military council took power in August 2005. |
| Col Vall barred himself and other members of the junta from running for office. | Col Vall barred himself and other members of the junta from running for office. |