Maldives have first new leader in 30 years
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who had ruled for 30 years, was defeated by Mohamed Nasheed, a former "prisoner of conscience", in the country's first democratic election.
Mr Nasheed, the leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) who is known on the islands as "Anni", won 54 per cent of the vote in a two-horse presidential race with Mr Gayoom.
Mr Nasheed becomes the third president since the island nation in the Indian Ocean was granted independence from Britain in 1965. Over 209,000 Maldivians were registered to vote in the contest and turnout was extremely high at 86 per cent.
There was jubilation in the capital, Male, at the result, not least among Mr Nasheed's supporters. "It is a very happy result - it speaks for itself," said the MDP vice president, Ibrahim Hussein Zaki. "We are very happy that President Gayoom peacefully conceded defeat - he called Nasheed last night".
The MDP is closely aligned with Britain's Conservative party and Mr Nasheed and is known to be a friend of the shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague. He has been a regular visitor to Conservative party conferences where he likens the struggle in the Maldives to the story of William Pitt the Younger. Last year he was a guest international speaker.
Mr Nasheed has already committed the MDP to $350 million (£218 million) of spending commitments and has pledged to bring power supplies, a school and a harbour to each of the 200 inhabitated islands in the archipelago. In a surprise announcement he also said he would hold a mid-term election before his five-year term is up.
"I did not contest the election for personal desire... I don't want to come between any political leader the people want - and the people," he said.
In the first round of the elections on Oct 8 Mr Nasheed won 25 per cent of the vote and Mr Gayoom won 41 per cent.
The other four candidates who were beaten in the contest all endorsed the MDP leader.
Mr Nasheed inherits one of the most beautiful and lucrative tourist destinations in the world but also an archipelago where nearly half of Maldivians live in poverty. Drug abuse, crime and Islamism are also on the rise. Last year two Britons were injured when a bomb went off in Male.
Under Mr Gayoom the islands pursued a strict policy of segregation when it came to tourism and the local population. Of the 200 inhabitated islands there are luxury tourist resorts on 90 with another 55 due to be built. Tourists are only encouraged to visit "showcase" islands.
The UK remains the leading tourist market for the Maldives and last year over 125,000 British tourists visited the islands. However, the economic downturn has seen the number of tourists plummet and there are fears the new president will not be able to honour all his spending commitments.
While in power President Gayoom was repeatedly criticised for his human rights record and style of governance. As a prominent pro-democracy activist Mr Nasheed was targeted by the authorities and served several jail terms. He was tortured while in custody.
But he praised the "dignity and honour" shown by Mr Gayoom after he accepted the election result.
world News
Maldives have first new leader in 30 years
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who had ruled for 30 years, was defeated by Mohamed Nasheed, a former "prisoner of conscience", in the country's first democratic election.
Mr Nasheed, the leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) who is known on the islands as "Anni", won 54 per cent of the vote in a two-horse presidential race with Mr Gayoom.
Mr Nasheed becomes the third president since the island nation in the Indian Ocean was granted independence from Britain in 1965. Over 209,000 Maldivians were registered to vote in the contest and turnout was extremely high at 86 per cent.
There was jubilation in the capital, Male, at the result, not least among Mr Nasheed's supporters. "It is a very happy result - it speaks for itself," said the MDP vice president, Ibrahim Hussein Zaki. "We are very happy that President Gayoom peacefully conceded defeat - he called Nasheed last night".
The MDP is closely aligned with Britain's Conservative party and Mr Nasheed and is known to be a friend of the shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague. He has been a regular visitor to Conservative party conferences where he likens the struggle in the Maldives to the story of William Pitt the Younger. Last year he was a guest international speaker.
Mr Nasheed has already committed the MDP to $350 million (£218 million) of spending commitments and has pledged to bring power supplies, a school and a harbour to each of the 200 inhabitated islands in the archipelago. In a surprise announcement he also said he would hold a mid-term election before his five-year term is up.
"I did not contest the election for personal desire... I don't want to come between any political leader the people want - and the people," he said.
In the first round of the elections on Oct 8 Mr Nasheed won 25 per cent of the vote and Mr Gayoom won 41 per cent.
The other four candidates who were beaten in the contest all endorsed the MDP leader.
Mr Nasheed inherits one of the most beautiful and lucrative tourist destinations in the world but also an archipelago where nearly half of Maldivians live in poverty. Drug abuse, crime and Islamism are also on the rise. Last year two Britons were injured when a bomb went off in Male.
Under Mr Gayoom the islands pursued a strict policy of segregation when it came to tourism and the local population. Of the 200 inhabitated islands there are luxury tourist resorts on 90 with another 55 due to be built. Tourists are only encouraged to visit "showcase" islands.
The UK remains the leading tourist market for the Maldives and last year over 125,000 British tourists visited the islands. However, the economic downturn has seen the number of tourists plummet and there are fears the new president will not be able to honour all his spending commitments.
While in power President Gayoom was repeatedly criticised for his human rights record and style of governance. As a prominent pro-democracy activist Mr Nasheed was targeted by the authorities and served several jail terms. He was tortured while in custody.
But he praised the "dignity and honour" shown by Mr Gayoom after he accepted the election result.
