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Gayoom faces run-off in Maldives Gayoom faces run-off in Maldives
(about 3 hours later)
Voting in the Maldives first multi-party presidential election has gone to a second round after President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom failed to win outright.Voting in the Maldives first multi-party presidential election has gone to a second round after President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom failed to win outright.
Mr Gayoom secured 41% of votes cast, while Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader Mohamed Nasheed came second with 25%. Four others were knocked out. Mr Gayoom secured 41% of votes cast, while opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed came second with 25%, vote officials said. Four others were knocked out.
The two men will contest a run-off vote within 10 days.The two men will contest a run-off vote within 10 days.
President Gayoom, Asia's longest serving leader, has held power in the Indian Ocean archipelago for 30 years.President Gayoom, Asia's longest serving leader, has held power in the Indian Ocean archipelago for 30 years.
In August, he approved a law permitting multi-party elections, responding to years of political agitation for reform.In August, he approved a law permitting multi-party elections, responding to years of political agitation for reform.
'Safe hands' Mr Gayoom said after the vote that he still believed he had enough support to remain president.
The votes were counted through the night and into Thursday on the Maldives' coral islands, says the BBC's Roland Buerk in the capital, Male. "I'm not concerned because you know, if anything is shown by this result, it is that I am still the most popular public figure in this country," he said.
'Dictator'
The votes were counted through the night and into Thursday, says the BBC's Roland Buerk in the capital, Male.
I feel I must be at the helm to see through the reform programme Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Risking a voteProfile: President GayoomI feel I must be at the helm to see through the reform programme Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Risking a voteProfile: President Gayoom
With nearly all the votes counted, Mr Gayoom said the result showed he was the most popular figure in the Maldives. More than 84% of the country's 208,000 registered voters cast their ballots in the vote, electoral officials say.
Our correspondent says his long-time nemesis, Mr Nasheed, will now be hoping that supporters of the other four candidates now swing behind him. Our correspondent says Mr Nasheed, who leads the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), will be hoping that supporters of the other four candidates now swing behind him.
On Wednesday, voting was extended amid claims of irregularities. Polling was due to end at 2000 (1500 GMT), but electoral officials allowed everyone with an identity card to cast their ballot well after the official closing time. He has accused Mr Gayoom of being "a dictator" and says international election observers will be needed to ensure a fair vote.
Correspondents say the campaign was hard fought and lively, with noisy late-night rallies in Male. Candidates used sea planes to canvas for votes among the hundreds of islands that make up the nation. "We're very confident that... we will win this through and within 10 days we will have another leadership in this country and a democratic government," Mr Nasheed said.
President Gayoom urged voters to elect him for a seventh term because he was a "safe pair of hands" who would keep the economy - especially its important tourism sector - functioning smoothly. "But for democracy to be established in the Maldives, we need the assistance of the international community, especially they need to observe the vote, they need to protect the vote."
The president argued that after 30 years of his leadership, the Maldives had become South Asia's richest economy, at the forefront of the international battle against climate change and on the verge of becoming a fully-fledged democracy. On Wednesday, voting was extended amid claims of irregularities.
The Election Commission said it had received more than 1,000 complaints, but the majority of those were about registration problems and were resolved.
The head of the Commonwealth observer mission, former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur, said he hoped the registration problems would be resolved in the second round.
'Safe hands'
Correspondents say the campaign was hard fought and lively. Candidates used sea planes to canvas for votes among the hundreds of islands that make up the nation.
Main opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed says it is time for changeMain opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed says it is time for change
Security around him was tight during the campaign. In January, an islander tried to stab Mr Gayoom, but he was fought off by a boy scout. President Gayoom urged voters to elect him for a seventh term because he was a "safe pair of hands" who would keep the economy - especially its important tourism sector - functioning smoothly.
The president argued that after 30 years of his leadership, the Maldives had become South Asia's richest economy.
Mr Nasheed is one of the president's fiercest critics and a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience.Mr Nasheed is one of the president's fiercest critics and a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience.
Ahead of the election, he accused Mr Gayoom of nepotism and "dirty tricks", including what he said was the false allegation that the MDP wanted to convert everyone to Christianity.Ahead of the election, he accused Mr Gayoom of nepotism and "dirty tricks", including what he said was the false allegation that the MDP wanted to convert everyone to Christianity.
Wednesday's election followed reforms introduced after Mr Gayoom was accused of crushing pro-democracy protests in 2004.Wednesday's election followed reforms introduced after Mr Gayoom was accused of crushing pro-democracy protests in 2004.
Correspondents say there are many problems for the eventual winner to confront, including a growing heroin problem among the young and the threat caused by rising sea levels which environmentalists say could wash the country away.Correspondents say there are many problems for the eventual winner to confront, including a growing heroin problem among the young and the threat caused by rising sea levels which environmentalists say could wash the country away.