Some one million voters are expected to participate in Friday's legislative and municipal elections in Mauritania, according to news reports. Voter turnout was low in the capital Nouakchott, while polls in the hinterland recorded a higher turnout. Polls are slated to close at 19:00 GMT. 16 parties, including many from the opposition, are taking part in the two polls- one to elect 81 members to the national assembly, the other to vote officials to the 216 municipal councils. Opposition parties had boycotted previous polls because of allegations of rigging. Prior to this election, the authorities introduced a voting card which is difficult to forge, prompting the opposition to participate.
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