Ruling party candidate declared winner of Mauritania election

NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Mauritania's electoral commission proclaimed ruling party candidate Mohamed Ould Ghazouani winner on Sunday with 52% of votes in a presidential election the previous day.

His nearest rival, anti-slavery campaigner Biram Dah Abeid, came second with 18.58%, while third place candidate Mohamed Ould Boubacar, who is backed by Mauritania's biggest Islamist party, got 17.85%.

(Reporting by Kissima Diagana; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Daniel Wallis)