Maldives holds make-or-break presidential vote

MALÉ - Maldives went to the polls on Saturday to elect a president and avert a constitutional crisis after two previous attempts to choose a leader were scuttled.

Opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, ousted as president nearly two years ago in what he called a coup, is seeking to return to power in the elections and hoping for a first-round victory.

Men and women queued even before voting booths opened in the Indian Ocean nation of 1,192 tiny coral islands sprinkled across the equator, officials said, and results were expected Sunday.

However, a run-off planned for Sunday in the event that no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote may be in doubt, Elections Commission chief Fuwad Thowfeek told reporters in the capital Male.

The two other candidates, Abdulla Yameen and Qasim Ibrahim, were yet to approve voter lists, a requirement mandated by the Supreme Court for a run-off to take place, he said.

Under the constitution, a new president must be sworn in by Monday, November 11.

The Maldives, whose turquoise seas and white beaches have long been a draw for foreigners, has been the focus of intense diplomatic pressure since judges annulled results of a September 7 vote.

When new polls were scuppered six weeks later, suspicions grew that authorities were determined to prevent Nasheed from returning to power at any price.

The 46-year-old -- a one-time political prisoner and environmental activist -- won the first multi-party elections in 2008, ending 30 years of iron-fisted rule by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

But after clashing with key institutions, including the judiciary and security forces, he was forced to resign in February 2012.

Nasheed is expected to emerge victorious having securing a clear lead over his two challengers in the September 7 vote, even though he fell just short of the absolute majority needed to win in the first round.

The Supreme Court annulled the September results on grounds voter lists were flawed, even though the outcome was given the all-clear by international observers.

Nasheed's two challengers -- Gayoom's half brother Yameen and business tycoon Ibrahim -- thwarted the rescheduled vote on October 19 by refusing to endorse an updated electoral roll.

"Both of them are yet to sign off the voter lists in case we need to have a run-off tomorrow (Sunday)," Thowfeek said. "It looks like they are not keen to fulfil their duties."

There was no immediate comment from Yameen and Ibrahim.

Firebomb attack

Yameen's Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) accused unidentified attackers of trying to firebomb his house Friday night, but said the attempt failed because of rain.

"We're very concerned about attempts at intimidation. We also have concerns about the conduct of the elections," PPM leader and youth minister Mohamed Shareef told AFP.

He said his party supported the elections, but predicted yet more legal challenges after Saturday's vote.

"Given the high stakes involved, irrespective of who wins, there will be a lot of anger, frustration and finger pointing," Shareef said. "I hope it will not lead to violence."

Nasheed's hopes have been boosted by outgoing President Mohamed Waheed's decision not to stand after he won just five percent of the vote in September.

"We are confident we will win in the first round itself," Nasheed's MDP Youth leader Shauna Aminath told AFP.

Nasheed fell out with his one-time vice-president after being succeeded by Waheed in February 2012.

But following Waheed's decision to exit the poll race, the party backing him joined Nasheed.

A host of Western diplomats have flown from their Sri Lankan base to seek to ensure no last-minute hitches, with the US leading pressure on the Sunni Muslin nation of 350,000 to avoid a constitutional crisis.

During his rule, Gayoom packed the judiciary and security forces with his supporters. There are suspicions they still want to thwart Nasheed.

"Even if Nasheed wins over the weekend, I still have doubts he will be allowed to take power," a Colombo-based European diplomat told AFP.

Nasheed is hoping anger against his rivals for blocking the previous votes will increase his tally among the 239,000-strong electorate.

In his final campaign speech, Nasheed eyed a clear victory.

"God willing, we will win this election in one round," he said.

He resigned on February 7, 2012 in the aftermath of a police mutiny. He later said that he and his family had been threatened with violence.