The Maldives on Saturday held its first parliamentary election since former strongman leader Abdulla Yameen was forced to stand down, with his arch-rival tipped to make a big political comeback. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih appealed for a high turnout as unusually hot weather saw slow voting early in the day. Voting was extended for two hours to encourage the public to come out.
Election officials estimated the final turnout to be between 70 and 80 percent, down from the 89 percent recorded at the September presidential election which unexpectedly toppled Yameen. "I urge Maldivians to go out and vote," Solih said after voting in the capital, Male, where his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) fielded former president Mohamed Nasheed as a candidate.