Maldives asks for support after election annulled

MALE - The Maldives government on Tuesday urged all parties to support fresh elections after the Supreme Court annulled last month’s results, even though international observers had said those polls were free and fair. The government of the honeymoon islands also called for foreign support for the new presidential polls expected to be held by October 20 amid deepening international concern about political turmoil in the country. The court late Monday ordered a fresh ballot, annulling the first round of voting on September 7 which was won by former leader Mohamed Nasheed who claims he was ousted in a coup last year. –AFP

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