Weld Taye' won the third Presidential elections, opposition prepare to disregard the elections
Mauritania, Politics, 11/10/2003

News reports in Nouakchott said that Mauritania's authorities detained Muhammad Khouna Weld Hedallah, the presidential candidate who received the second most votes in the presidential elections.

The authorities freed him temporarily on Thursday after he was detained under the pretext of planning for a coupe in case he does not win the elections which took place on Friday.

Hedallah, who disappeared for a while with other two presidential candidates announced the beginning of taking legal measures against the legality of the elections results.

Before his detention, Weld Hedallah held with the other two presidential candidates Ahmad Weld Dada and Masoud Weld Balkheir a joint press conference to clarify their positions regarding the elections which resulted in a strong victory for the current President Mu'aweya Wild Taye' who received ( 67%) of the votes, according to the results announced by the government.

The three men issued a statement in which they announced their rejection to recognize the results of the elections. In the press conference Hedallah called on all the people of Mauritania to what he called "resistance and defending their legitimate rights after President Weld al-Taye made a coupe on their will and votes."

Opposition sources in Mauritania stressed that vast falsification operations took place in Tanbadgha areas in south east of the country and Bumdeid and Wadi al-Naqa and al-Minzara and Daar al-Naem in Nouakchott.

Earlier Weld Heddalh had said there are " various horrifying operations. I fear that the elections are not held in atmospheres of transparency." He added If elections proceed normally I will be the first who will admit that I was defeated, but I will not permit my victory to be stolen. Sheikh Weld Harma, the deputy director of the election campaign of Hedallah had said "the assessment of violations is that they are flagrant. They are committed by people in the bright of the day." For his part, Belkhair, the first candidate for al-Harrathin ( former Negroes ) who represent 20% of the country's population said that these elections are not of "guaranteed resulted and imply great risks." On the other hand, the President whose term of office is expired said that the elections are characterized of "total transparency." He added "these elections will be more expectedly considered an example to be followed by each and every one who seeks to establish democracy in the world."

However, official results of the presidential elections in Mauritania said that the rate of participation in the elections reached 60.83% out of 1.107 million voters. Taye' received 66.69% of the votes, Hedalah got 18.73% and Dada 6.89% of the votes; Balkheir 5.30% of the votes and Mawlai Hassan Weld Hayed 4.81% and Eisha Bin Seidi Muhammad Weld Jaddan 0,47%.

Previous Stories:
  Mauritania's authorities release Weld Hedalah   (11/8/2003)
  Accusation of a coup plan as Mauritania's election nears   (11/6/2003)
  Former Mauritanian president passes away   (10/16/2003)

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