EU hails elections

The European Union (EU) has commended Mauritania's local and parliamentary elections conducted on 19 and 26 October, saying they were smoothly organised and allowed for proper participation in an atmosphere of normalcy and democratic openness. In a statement issued in Brussels on Wednesday, the EU said " the results of the elections reflect the political pluralism shown by the Mauritanian electorate". It called on Mauritanian parties to maintain a constructive political dialogue "so as to strengthen confidence in democratic institutions and create an environment in which all shades of opinion can be freely expressed". News reported in October said about one million voters were estimated to have participated in legislative and municipal elections in Mauritania. Voter turnout was low in the capital Nouakchott, but polls in the hinterland recorded a higher turnout. Some 16 parties, including many from the opposition - who had boycotted previous polls, took part in the two polls - one to elect 81 members to the national assembly, the other to vote officials to the 216 municipal councils. The EU statement said the Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries members of the European Economic Area, aligned themselves with the declaration on Mauritania's polls.