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| Police stop Maldives presidential election from going ahead | Police stop Maldives presidential election from going ahead |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police in the Maldives are preventing a presidential election from going ahead, eyewitnesses in the capital Male say. | Police in the Maldives are preventing a presidential election from going ahead, eyewitnesses in the capital Male say. |
| The electoral commission had made a last-minute announcement that the vote would be held as planned on Saturday. | |
| But commission head Fuwad Thowfeek said police had entered his offices and were stopping officials distributing election materials. | But commission head Fuwad Thowfeek said police had entered his offices and were stopping officials distributing election materials. |
| Two candidates had sought to have the poll delayed, because they had not approved the voter register. | Two candidates had sought to have the poll delayed, because they had not approved the voter register. |
| Late on Friday, Gasim Ibrahim and Abdulla Yameen had both sought an injunction against the poll at the Supreme Court. | |
| They complained that they hadn't had time to endorse the voter register - a newly introduced requirement. | |
| The court didn't issue an injunction but nor did it give a clear instruction for the election to go ahead. | |
| "Only one candidate had signed the voter register and therefore it would have been a violation of the Supreme Court guidelines for the election to go ahead," police spokesman Abdulla Nawaz told the Agence France-Presse news agency, after police took action to stop the election taking place. | |
| 'Dark day' | |
| Last week, the Maldives Supreme Court annulled the result of the first round of the elections held in September because of alleged irregularities. | Last week, the Maldives Supreme Court annulled the result of the first round of the elections held in September because of alleged irregularities. |
| The main opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed won 45% in that poll against 5% for current President Mohamed Waheed. | The main opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed won 45% in that poll against 5% for current President Mohamed Waheed. |
| Mr Waheed has since withdrawn from the election. | Mr Waheed has since withdrawn from the election. |
| Mr Nasheed now faces two opponents - Gasim Ibrahim and Abdulla Yameen - neither of whom has approved the voter register. | Mr Nasheed now faces two opponents - Gasim Ibrahim and Abdulla Yameen - neither of whom has approved the voter register. |
| Early on Saturday, Mr Thowfeek had announced: "We will hold the election in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court. | |
| "The start of the voting may be delayed in some places, but we will allow more time for people to cast their ballots." | |
| However, within hours police were at the electoral commission and Mr Thowfeek was obliged to call the election off, saying it was a "dark day for democracy". | |
| "A new date for elections will be informed later," he said. | |
| International observers had all praised the conduct of the first-round election, and the Supreme Court's decision to annul it was condemned by Mr Nasheed's supporters. | International observers had all praised the conduct of the first-round election, and the Supreme Court's decision to annul it was condemned by Mr Nasheed's supporters. |
| Mr Nasheed came to power in 2008 in the Maldives' first free elections, but resigned amid violent protests and a mutiny by senior police officers in February 2012. | Mr Nasheed came to power in 2008 in the Maldives' first free elections, but resigned amid violent protests and a mutiny by senior police officers in February 2012. |