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Police stop Maldives presidential election from going ahead Police stop Maldives presidential election from going ahead
(about 3 hours later)
Police in the Maldives are preventing a presidential election from going ahead, eyewitnesses in the capital Male say. Police in the Maldives have stopped a presidential election from going ahead on Saturday, plunging the country into fresh political uncertainty.
The electoral commission had made a last-minute announcement that the vote would be held as planned on Saturday. Electoral 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. In a televised speech, Mr Thowfeek said it was a "dark day for democracy".
Two candidates had sought to have the poll delayed, because they had not approved the voter register. The Maldives has been in turmoil since ex-President Mohamed Nasheed was ousted in disputed circumstances in 2012.
Late on Friday, Gasim Ibrahim and Abdulla Yameen had both sought an injunction against the poll at the Supreme Court. Correspondents said the Maldives' capital, Male, appeared calm early on Saturday, with people still waking up to the news.
They complained that they hadn't had time to endorse the voter register - a newly introduced requirement. Mr Nasheed is standing in the election but the two candidates who trailed behind him in an earlier vote - held last month but then annulled - have been fighting for it not to take place.
Late on Friday, Gasim Ibrahim and Abdulla Yameen sought an injunction against the election at the Supreme Court.
They complained that they hadn't had time to endorse the registry of voters - 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.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. "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 AFP news agency.
'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. Mr Nasheed, now the main opposition leader in the Indian Ocean archipelago, 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. Analysts say that if his replacement is not elected by the end of his official term in three weeks, it will spark a constitutional crisis.
Early on Saturday, Mr Thowfeek had announced: "We will hold the election in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court.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.""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". However, within hours police were at the electoral commission and Mr Thowfeek was obliged to call the election off.
"A new date for elections will be informed later," he said. "Police personnel in this building stopped us taking anything from here [election offices], so we have no other option except to stop the election today," he said.
"A new date for elections will be informed later," he added.
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.