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| Ex-minister wins Mauritania poll | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Former cabinet minister Sidi Ould Sheikh Abdellahi has won Mauritania's historic presidential election, the interior minister has said. | |
| He gained 53% of the ballots cast in Sunday's run-off, against 47% for opposition leader Ahmed Ould Daddah. | |
| The elections were seen as the fairest since the largely desert country gained independence from France in 1960. | |
| They cap the restoration of civilian rule after a 2005 coup. The military junta was banned from contesting. | |
| Previous elections were dismissed as being rigged in favour of the ruling party candidates. | Previous elections were dismissed as being rigged in favour of the ruling party candidates. |
| Slavery | Slavery |
| Mr Abdellahi, 69, is supported by a coalition of 18 groups previously loyal to the regime of the ousted authoritarian leader, President Maaoya Sid'Ahmed Ould Taya. | Mr Abdellahi, 69, is supported by a coalition of 18 groups previously loyal to the regime of the ousted authoritarian leader, President Maaoya Sid'Ahmed Ould Taya. |
| He was also backed by the third and fourth-placed candidates from the first round and a leading anti-slavery campaigner. | He was also backed by the third and fourth-placed candidates from the first round and a leading anti-slavery campaigner. |
| Mr Daddah, 65, an economist and brother of Mauritania's first post-independence leader, unsuccessfully ran against Mr Taya in 1992 and 2003. | Mr Daddah, 65, an economist and brother of Mauritania's first post-independence leader, unsuccessfully ran against Mr Taya in 1992 and 2003. |
| The ballot, in which 1.1 million people were eligible to vote, marks the final stage of a programme to restore civilian rule. | The ballot, in which 1.1 million people were eligible to vote, marks the final stage of a programme to restore civilian rule. |
| Mr Abdellahi gained most votes in the first round two weeks ago but failed to get the 50% needed for victory. | Mr Abdellahi gained most votes in the first round two weeks ago but failed to get the 50% needed for victory. |
| Interior ministry officials put voter turnout at about 60% - slightly down on the first round. | Interior ministry officials put voter turnout at about 60% - slightly down on the first round. |
| Both candidates are members of the so-called White Moor elite and spent time in prison under previous military rulers. | Both candidates are members of the so-called White Moor elite and spent time in prison under previous military rulers. |
| They both pledged tough measures against slavery, which was banned in 1981 but which still persists. | |
| Mauritania is an ethnically diverse mix of Arabic-speaking Moors and black Africans. | Mauritania is an ethnically diverse mix of Arabic-speaking Moors and black Africans. |
| The large Black Moor population are current and former slaves of the fairer-skinned ruling elite, the White Moors. | The large Black Moor population are current and former slaves of the fairer-skinned ruling elite, the White Moors. |
| Mr Abdellahi pledged "special legislation" criminalising slavery while his rival, Mr Daddah, promised compensation for slaves and penalties for law-breakers. | Mr Abdellahi pledged "special legislation" criminalising slavery while his rival, Mr Daddah, promised compensation for slaves and penalties for law-breakers. |
| 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. |