Nouakchott, MAURITANIA: Mauritania's first democratically elected president, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi (R), sits beside outgoing military president Ely Ould Mohamed Vall 19 April 2007 during his swearing-in ceremony in Nouakchott,completing a landmark transfer from military to civilian rule in the Islamic African nation. Since independence from France in 1960, Mauritania had been ruled either by leaders who came to power through coups or incumbent presidents who got re-elected in fraudulent polls.'I commit myself to hold sweeping reforms ... aimed at strengthening national unity .... and democracy,' said Abdallahi, who recieved a 21-gun salute. Getty Images logo Getty Images 34 months ago

Nouakchott, MAURITANIA: Mauritania's first democratically elected president, Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi (R), sits beside outgoing military president Ely Ould Mohamed Vall 19 April 2007 during his swearing-in ceremony in Nouakchott,completing a landmark transfer from military to civilian rule in the Islamic African nation. Since independence from France in 1960, Mauritania had been ruled either by leaders who came to power through coups or incumbent presidents who got re-elected in fraudulent polls.'I commit myself to hold sweeping reforms ... aimed at strengthening national unity .... and democracy,' said Abdallahi, who recieved a 21-gun salute.

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