Mauritania election 'a charade'

Political leaders cast their vote in Mauritania on Saturday The main challengers to coup leader Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz have denounced Mauritania's presidential election as a "charade" and demanded an inquiry. With more than half of the ballots counted, Gen Abdelaziz has about 52% of the votes, election officials said. Four key challengers called the result "prefabricated" and urged the international community to investigate. The general's supporters are already on the streets of the capital, Nouakchott, celebrating his predicted victory. 'Confident' The leading opposition candidates, including Messaoud Ould Boulkheir and Ahmed Ould Daddah, have already rejected Saturday's election. MAURITANIA Dominated by light-skinned Arabic-speakers (Moors) Slavery still practised, campaigners say Black Africans complain of discrimination Mostly in the Sahara Desert Q&A: Mauritania elections Messaoud Ould Boulkheir told a press conference: "The results which are starting to come out show that it is an electoral charade which is trying to legitimise the coup." A statement from the group of four challengers read: "Firstly we firmly reject these prefabricated results, secondly we call on the international community to put in place an inquiry to shed some light on the electoral process." The election commission currently puts him second with about 16% of the vote and Ahmed Ould Daddah third with nearly 14%. There are nine candidates in all. Voter turnout was 61%, the commission said. If Gen Abdelaziz wins a majority he will avoid a second round on 1 August. His director of communications said he was confident that would happen. Cheikhna Ould Nenni said: "Ould Abdelaziz should get between 52% and 53% of the votes. Without question we will make it in the first round." Gen Abdelaziz came to power in a coup last year. Mauritania has been led by a democratically elected leader for just one year since independence in 1960