Mauritania Leader Is Declared Victor in Boycotted Election

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania —  President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya was declared the overwhelming victor Sunday in this West African country after an election that was boycotted by opposition groups.

Taya, who first took power in a 1984 military coup, captured 90% of the vote Friday, according to figures released by the Interior Ministry. The government said turnout was 74% of the 1.2 million eligible voters, despite opposition claims that the boycott was widely observed.

Taya’s spokesman, Moustapha Ould Abeidarrahmane, declared it a “crushing victory” for Taya’s ruling Democratic and Social Republican Party.

The Assn. of Human Rights in Mauritania accused the government of “wide-scale fraud,” saying it closed some voting stations early and allowed Taya supporters to vote more than once.

Taya legalized opposition parties only in 1991.