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| Maldives election goes to runoff | Maldives election goes to runoff |
| (10 days later) | |
| The first democratically elected president of the Maldives, ousted in 2012 in what he called a coup, faces a runoff against the brother of the country's former dictator after falling short of a clear majority in the Indian Ocean archipelago's presidential election. | The first democratically elected president of the Maldives, ousted in 2012 in what he called a coup, faces a runoff against the brother of the country's former dictator after falling short of a clear majority in the Indian Ocean archipelago's presidential election. |
| Mohamed Nasheed, who received 45% of Saturday's vote, could still find it hard to secure a second-round majority if his three election opponents form an alliance for the 28 September runoff. | Mohamed Nasheed, who received 45% of Saturday's vote, could still find it hard to secure a second-round majority if his three election opponents form an alliance for the 28 September runoff. |
| Nasheed in 2008 won the country's first multi-party election after 30 years of autocracy. In this latest poll he had needed at least 50% in the first round to avoid a runoff against Yaamin Abdul Qayyoom, a brother of the Maldives' former autocrat, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. | Nasheed in 2008 won the country's first multi-party election after 30 years of autocracy. In this latest poll he had needed at least 50% in the first round to avoid a runoff against Yaamin Abdul Qayyoom, a brother of the Maldives' former autocrat, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. |
| Qayyoom polled 25% on Saturday while businessman Qasim Ibrahim was a close third with 24% and incumbent President Mohamed Waheed Hassan ended with 5%, according to official results released on Sunday. | Qayyoom polled 25% on Saturday while businessman Qasim Ibrahim was a close third with 24% and incumbent President Mohamed Waheed Hassan ended with 5%, according to official results released on Sunday. |
| The island nation, known for its luxurious beach resorts, has been in political turmoil since Nasheed ordered the military to arrest a senior judge whom he accused of bias. Weeks of public protests ensued and Nasheed eventually resigned, later arguing he was forced out at gunpoint by mutinying security forces and politicians backed by the country's former autocrat. | The island nation, known for its luxurious beach resorts, has been in political turmoil since Nasheed ordered the military to arrest a senior judge whom he accused of bias. Weeks of public protests ensued and Nasheed eventually resigned, later arguing he was forced out at gunpoint by mutinying security forces and politicians backed by the country's former autocrat. |
| Though a domestic commission of inquiry threw out his claim, Nasheed has repeatedly dismissed as illegal the government of Hassan, his former vice-president who took over the top office. | Though a domestic commission of inquiry threw out his claim, Nasheed has repeatedly dismissed as illegal the government of Hassan, his former vice-president who took over the top office. |
| Despite Nasheed winning the most first-round votes on Saturday, third- and fourth-place finishers are likely to throw their support to Gayoom. | Despite Nasheed winning the most first-round votes on Saturday, third- and fourth-place finishers are likely to throw their support to Gayoom. |
| Transparency Maldives, an independent election monitor, said that apart from minor complaints of violence the first-round polling was free and peaceful. | Transparency Maldives, an independent election monitor, said that apart from minor complaints of violence the first-round polling was free and peaceful. |
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