World IN BRIEF : MAURITANIA : Military Ruler Leads Balloting

Military ruler Col. Sid Ahmed Ould Taya emerged as the apparent winner of Mauritanian presidential elections marred by scattered violence and accusations of cheating on all sides. Security forces patrolled the capital as returns began rolling in from Friday’s election, the first multi-party vote in the northwest African nation of about 2 million people. In one part of Nouakchott, the capital, police fired tear gas at supporters of the leading challenger, Moktar Ould Daddah, who were awaiting election returns. Results from all but a few of the 52 districts gave Taya about 61% of the vote. He needed 50% to avoid a runoff.