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Mauritania army 'to fight terror' Mauritania army 'to fight terror'
(10 minutes later)
Gen Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz has vowed to tackle terrorism, as well as its causes, after being declared the winner of Saturday's presidential election.Gen Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz has vowed to tackle terrorism, as well as its causes, after being declared the winner of Saturday's presidential election.
Gen Abdelaziz, who came to power in a coup last year, said the army would be strengthened.Gen Abdelaziz, who came to power in a coup last year, said the army would be strengthened.
Al-Qaeda's North African cell has claimed several attacks in Mauritania - a US man was killed last month.Al-Qaeda's North African cell has claimed several attacks in Mauritania - a US man was killed last month.
Gen Abdelaziz, who denied the election had been rigged, said fighting poverty and ignorance would also be priorities.Gen Abdelaziz, who denied the election had been rigged, said fighting poverty and ignorance would also be priorities.
On Sunday officials announced he had won the poll outright, with 52% of the vote.On Sunday officials announced he had won the poll outright, with 52% of the vote.
Even before the results were announced, his challengers said the outcome had been "prefabricated" and called for an international inquiry.Even before the results were announced, his challengers said the outcome had been "prefabricated" and called for an international inquiry.
MAURITANIA Dominated by light-skinned Arabic-speakers (Moors)Slavery still practised, campaigners sayBlack Africans complain of discriminationMostly in the Sahara Desert class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8077496.stm">Q&A: Mauritania elections class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/791083.stm">Country profile: Mauritania MAURITANIA ELECTION Gen Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz 52%Messaoud Ould Boulkheir16%Ahmed Ould Daddah14%
Source: Interior Minister Mohamed Ould Rzeizim
Q&A: Mauritania elections Country profile: Mauritania
But the general challenged the opposition to provide evidence to back up their claims.But the general challenged the opposition to provide evidence to back up their claims.
"Whatever [they] say, our camp did not engage in fraud," he said."Whatever [they] say, our camp did not engage in fraud," he said.
"It's not enough just to say there has been fraud - you have to provide proof.""It's not enough just to say there has been fraud - you have to provide proof."
In his first news conference after being declared the winner, Gen Abdelaziz said he took the threat of terrorism seriously.In his first news conference after being declared the winner, Gen Abdelaziz said he took the threat of terrorism seriously.
"We need to fight terrorism in terms of security but also by improving the living conditions of the people and fighting ignorance.""We need to fight terrorism in terms of security but also by improving the living conditions of the people and fighting ignorance."
Earlier, one of the main opposition candidates, Messaoud Ould Boulkheir, told a news conference: "The results which are starting to come out show that it is an electoral charade which is trying to legitimise the coup."Earlier, one of the main opposition candidates, Messaoud Ould Boulkheir, told a news 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: "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."A statement from the group of four challengers read: "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."
Mr Boulkheir, the outgoing speaker of parliament, came second with 16% of the vote, while veteran opposition leader Ahmed Ould Daddah came third with 14%, according to the official results.Mr Boulkheir, the outgoing speaker of parliament, came second with 16% of the vote, while veteran opposition leader Ahmed Ould Daddah came third with 14%, according to the official results.
Voter turnout was 61%, the election commission said.Voter turnout was 61%, the election commission said.
Fighting terrorism had also been one of Gen Abdelaziz's justifications for staging the August 2008 coup, which ousted Mauritania's only democratically elected leader Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.Fighting terrorism had also been one of Gen Abdelaziz's justifications for staging the August 2008 coup, which ousted Mauritania's only democratically elected leader Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.
He had been in power for less than a year and a half.He had been in power for less than a year and a half.
Last year's Paris-Dakar rally was cancelled after the killing of a family of French tourists in Mauritania.Last year's Paris-Dakar rally was cancelled after the killing of a family of French tourists in Mauritania.