Nouakchott  - Mauritania's former military leader Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz on Sunday appeared headed for victory in Saturday's presidential poll.

Abdel Aziz held 52 per cent of the vote when 45 per cent of it had been counted, officials said in the north-west African Islamic republic.

If that percentage is confirmed, it would give him an unexpectedly strong victory and make a second round of voting unnecessary.

Four opposition candidates, however, alleged fraud and said the results were not valid.

The elections were the first since Abdel Aziz ousted democratically elected president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in a bloodless coup in August 2008.

Abdel Aziz then stepped down as junta leader to contest the presidential elections.

Transparent elections were seen as necessary for Mauritania to regain its international legitimacy and reopen the aid flow.

Definitive election results were expected on Monday. (dpa)