Male: Outgoing President Mohammed Waheed today asked the Maldives' Elections Commission (EC) to find a way to hold a "free, fair, and inclusive" presidential poll as early as possible, preferably on October 26.
Waheed met EC members this afternoon to discuss the future course of action after a presidential revote was blocked by police, a statement issued by his office said.
"President Dr Mohamed Waheed is concerned that the presidential election could not be held as scheduled. The President is fully committed to holding a free, fair, and inclusive election, where none of the candidates boycott it," the statement said.
"The President urges on all three candidates and political parties to find a solution to the current disagreement," the statement said.
Minutes before balloting was to start this morning, the EC issued a statement saying police had blocked its officials from conducting the re-vote. Police spokesman Abdulla Nawaz said polling was stopped because the EC did not comply with a court order to have the voters' rolls endorsed by all the presidential candidates.
The EC accused police of undermining its independence.
The Maldives has been in turmoil since Nasheed was removed from the post of President last year. Nasheed pushed for today's revote but two candidates, Gasim Ibrahim and Abdulla Yameen, who trailed him in the first round of balloting did not want the polling to go ahead.
Waheed met EC members this afternoon to discuss the future course of action after a presidential revote was blocked by police, a statement issued by his office said.
"President Dr Mohamed Waheed is concerned that the presidential election could not be held as scheduled. The President is fully committed to holding a free, fair, and inclusive election, where none of the candidates boycott it," the statement said.
"The President urges on all three candidates and political parties to find a solution to the current disagreement," the statement said.
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Minutes before balloting was to start this morning, the EC issued a statement saying police had blocked its officials from conducting the re-vote. Police spokesman Abdulla Nawaz said polling was stopped because the EC did not comply with a court order to have the voters' rolls endorsed by all the presidential candidates.
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The EC accused police of undermining its independence.
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The Maldives has been in turmoil since Nasheed was removed from the post of President last year. Nasheed pushed for today's revote but two candidates, Gasim Ibrahim and Abdulla Yameen, who trailed him in the first round of balloting did not want the polling to go ahead.
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