Maldives polls: Waheed to support Gayoom's brother in run-off

Outgoing Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed, who suffered a shocking defeat in the first round of the polls, will support ex-president Abdul Gayoom's brother in the run-off against leading candidate Mohamed Nasheed.
"In the second round of voting, in my individual capacity, I will be supporting the candidate who is contesting with the second highest votes," said Waheed, who received just 5.13 per cent of the vote in the first round on September 7.
"I say this because in my opinion, the best path for this country cannot be the weakening of the constitutional framework, breaking the law, arson, or the creation of conflict," he said in a statement yesterday.

The run-off between top two candidates is schedule for September 28 as none of the four candidates managed to secure crucial 50 per cent votes in the first round held.
While Maldivian Democratic Party leader Nasheed managed little over 45 per cent votes, Progressive Party of Maldives candidate and Gayoom's brother Abdulla Yameen secured just 25 per cent of over two lakh votes polled. Third candidate tycoon Gasim Ibrahim got 24.07 per cent.
Waheed raised concerns about the first round of the polls and called for "peace and harmony" before the second round.

"I am very concerned that there are some very serious allegations regarding the election," he said.

Without elaborating, he said, "It is of utmost importance to resolve these issues by the respective legal and judicial venues, and to ascertain delivery of justice and the rule of law."
He appealed to all Maldivian citizens to maintain peace and harmony in the second round of voting.
"I urge everyone to make it your highest priority, the peace and stability of the country in the upcoming days, and not let your political differences create divisions among us," he added.
The first round passed off peacefully with 88 per cent of the electorate turning out to vote in the second multi-party presidential election since 2008.

In 2008 elections, Nasheed was elected as president but was forced to resign in February last year after staying in power for four years.