Maldives holds fresh election for president

Voters in the Maldives are staging a third bid to choose a new president and end a political crisis sparked by the toppling of their first freely-elected leader nearly two years ago.

Voting began at 475 polling booths at 7am local time (02:00 GMT) on Saturday, with stations due to close eight and a half hours later, an election commission official confirmed.

A Commonwealth Observer Group, headed by former Prime Minister of Malta Lawrence Gonzi is once again in the Maldives to observe and consider all aspects of the electoral process and assesses compliance with the standards for democratic elections to which Maldives has committed itself. Where appropriate, the group can also make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral framework. 

A Commonwealth Observer Group first deployed to the country at the invitation of the Elections Commission of Maldives for the 7 September presidential election, which was later annulled by the country's Supreme Court. The Commonwealth Secretary-General subsequently constituted observer groups for the 28 September and the 19 October elections, both of which were eventually cancelled. Gonzi led the group on each occasion.

The Indian Ocean archipelago, a popular tourist destination, has been the focus of intense diplomatic pressure since judges annulled the results of an election on September 7.

When new presidential polls were scuppered six weeks later, suspicions grew that authorities were determined to prevent opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed from returning to power at any price.

The 46-year-old - a one-time political prisoner and environmental activist - won the first multi-party elections in 2008, bringing an end to 30 years of rule by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

But after clashing with key institutions, including the judiciary and security forces, he was forced to resign in February 2012 in what he has always maintained was a "coup".

Nasheed is expected to win, having secured a clear lead over his two challengers on September 7, albeit falling five percentage points short of an absolute majority.

The Supreme Court however annulled those results on the grounds that the voter lists were flawed, even though the outcome was given a clean chit by international observers.

His two challengers, who include Gayoom's half brother Abdulla Yameen, thwarted the rescheduled vote on October 19 by refusing to endorse an updated electoral roll as required by law.

An elections commission spokeswoman confirmed both Yameen and a third candidate, Qasim Ibrahim, had now approved the lists.

Under the terms of the constitution, a new president must be sworn in by November 11 and the spokeswoman said a runoff would be held on Sunday if no candidate gets an absolute majority first time round.

"The arrangements are in place for the election on Saturday and if no one crosses the 50 percent mark, there will be a runoff vote on Sunday," she said.

Nasheed's hopes have been boosted by outgoing President Mohamed Waheed's decision not to stand after he got just five percent in September.

A host of Western diplomats have flown from their base in Sri Lanka to ensure there are no last-minute hitches.

"Since the September 7 first round of elections were annulled via questionable tactics, we have been actively engaging with all political parties and independent institutions to encourage a way forward," the US embassy said in a statement this week.

During his rule, Gayoom packed the judiciary and security forces with his supporters and there is a suspicion they still want to thwart Nasheed.

Nasheed is hoping that anger against his rivals for blocking the previous votes will increase his tally among the 239,000-strong electorate.

In his final campaign speech Friday, Nasheed eyed a clear victory.

"God willing, we will win this election in one round," he said at a rally in the capital Male.

Nearly one million holidaymakers visited the Maldives last year but the tourist industry dreads the prospect of more instability after suffering mass cancellations after Nasheed's downfall.

Nasheed resigned on February 7, 2012, in a statement made on national television in the aftermath of a police mutiny. He later claimed he and his family had been threatened with violence.