DATE=11/08/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=Mauritania / Elections (S Update)

NUMBER=2-309598

BYLINE=Saraha Simpson

DATELINE=Nouakchott

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Maaouiya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya has won Mauritania's presidential election and secured antoher six years in office. Sarah Simpson reports from the capital, Nouakchott.

TEXT: //INSERT ELEWA, IN ARABIC, FADE UNDER//

Making the announcement in Arabic only, Interior Minister Kaaba Ould Elewa confirmed that Mr. Ould Taya has secured 66-point-69 perecent of the vote, making him the out-right winner of Mauritania's presidential election.

Mr. Ould Taya has been in power since 1984. His electroral victory has secured him another six years in office only months before goernment coffers are set to swell with newly found oil-revenue.

But the controversy surrounding the ballot is not yet over. The whereabouts of Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidallah, who came in second with 18-point-73 percent of the vote, is unknown.

Mr. Ahmed Ould Daddah, who came in third with six-point-89 percent of the vote said that the elections had not been conducted freely or fairly, and he rejected the results of the poll.

Mr. Ould Daddah stated that althought he rejected the result, he was a democrat and would not respond with violence. (Signed)

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