Maldivians vote in historic Presidential run-off

Colombo, Oct 28 (PTI) Maldivians voted in a landmark
Presidential run-off between Asia's longest serving leader
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and his rival, a former political
prisoner Tuesday, with the turnout looking to cross 70
percent.

Initial results in the run-off, that will decide the
country's first democratically elected President, will start
trickling in around midnight but a clear picture is unlikely
before tomorrow.

The voter turnout in the election between Gayoom and
pro-democracy leader Mohamed Nasheed is expected to cross 70
percent, going by the serpentine queues in the 400 odd
polling stations, poll observers believe.

Since voting will end only at 8 PM (local time), final
results will emerge only Wednesday, observers said.

President Gayoom won the first round earlier this month,
but could not secure the stipulated 50 percent needed for
outright victory over Nasheed, also known as Anni.

While Gayoom polled 40.1 percent of votes in the first
round, his rival secured 25.1 percent. Interestingly,
opposition candidates, who failed to make it to the second
round have thrown their weight behind Nasheed.

About 2,09,000 people are eligible to vote in these
polls, with some preliminary results expected Tuesday night.

Simultaneous polling for the elections were also held in
India, Colombo, Singapore and London, where there are small
Maldivian communities.

"The counting will begin in each of the polling stations
soon after the voting gets over tonight and results will start
coming thereafter," an observer said.