Maldives rejects foreign pressure over vote hold-up in presidential run-off

Outgoing Maldivian president Mohamed Waheed has said he will resist international pressure to hold the second round of presidential elections in the country.

The comments from Waheed came after the Supreme Court suspended a presidential run-off due last weekend.

Waheed, in an address to the nation, said the court's decision had plunged the country into 'chaos', adding that he would not give in to foreign pressure.

Waheed strongly condemned calls for foreign military interventions in the Maldives and to interfere in domestic affairs of the country, without saying who had called for foreign involvement, Fox News reports.

According to the report, he said that the country is not intimidated by such calls, adding that they are prepared to save the country from such foreign parties that may attempt to interfere in the powers of the state.

The United States has led international calls for the presidential run-off to be held without delay, although there has been no suggestion from any country of military intervention.

However, the Supreme Court is yet to give a ruling on a case filed by a third-placed candidate who alleged irregularities in the election, which foreign observers ruled was free and fair, the report said.

Nasheed sees the court decision as a conspiracy to prevent him taking from power again, a year and a half after he was ousted following a police mutiny.