Maldives president refuses to step down
12 Nov 2013 5:39 AM IST
President Mohamed Waheed Hassan said in a televised address to the Indian Ocean archipelago nation on Sunday night that his intention was to oversee the runoff now scheduled for 16 November.
The first democratically elected president of the country and the brother of a former autocratic ruler have qualified for the runoff based on the results of Saturday’s election.
However, the Supreme Court postponed the runoff scheduled for Sunday, the latest in a series of obstacles in electing a president.
Hassan’s decision has the potential to exacerbate an already volatile political situation in the fragile democracy.
After Hassan’s announcement, hundreds of supporters of former President Mohamed Nasheed poured into the streets to demand Hassan’s resignation, throwing stones and bottles at police.
Hassan’s decision to stay in office came despite the urging of a UN official that an interim government be established until an elected president could be sworn in.
Nasheed, who resigned as president last year, won nearly 47 per cent of the vote in Saturday’s election, while Yaamin Abdul Gayoom trailed with 30 per cent. A third candidate, Qasim Ibrahim, had 23 per cent.
The first democratically elected president of the country and the brother of a former autocratic ruler have qualified for the runoff based on the results of Saturday’s election.
However, the Supreme Court postponed the runoff scheduled for Sunday, the latest in a series of obstacles in electing a president.
Hassan’s decision has the potential to exacerbate an already volatile political situation in the fragile democracy.
After Hassan’s announcement, hundreds of supporters of former President Mohamed Nasheed poured into the streets to demand Hassan’s resignation, throwing stones and bottles at police.
Hassan’s decision to stay in office came despite the urging of a UN official that an interim government be established until an elected president could be sworn in.
Nasheed, who resigned as president last year, won nearly 47 per cent of the vote in Saturday’s election, while Yaamin Abdul Gayoom trailed with 30 per cent. A third candidate, Qasim Ibrahim, had 23 per cent.
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