Former minister Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi has won Mauritania's presidential second round election, a senior Interior Ministry source told Reuters on Monday, citing unofficial results.
The results have indicated Abdallahi won 52.85 percent of valid votes, while his rival, veteran opposition figure Ahmed Ould Daddah, had 47.15 percent. Turnout was 67.5 percent.
Abdallahi, 68, an economist who has served in past governments, was seen as favourite to win Sunday's run-off. He enjoyed the support of members of the outgoing military junta. The new president is also backed by former supporters of President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, who was overthrown in 2005.
The vote was praised by international observers as the freest held since independence in 1960. They said voting had gone generally smoothly and without serious incidents.
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