Mauritania's Abdel Aziz: the strongman who took on Al-Qaeda Mauritania's president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is expected to handily win a new term in office as main opposition rivals boycott a vote Saturday in the largely desert nation. The ex-army general, who seized power of the northwest African nation in a coup in August 2008, has campaigned strongly on his success in fighting armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda at home and in neighbouring Sahel nations. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES