Maldives leader wins referendum

Maldivians have decided on a US-style presidential system in a referendum to decide which democratic model the island chain should adopt.

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the Maldives' president, and three other parties advocated a presidential system, while the main opposition party pushed for a British-style parliamentary government.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party had billed the vote as a referendum on Gayoom's 29-year autocratic rule.

Officials said the presidential model choice won 62 per cent of the vote, with 38 per cent against. They said just over 150,000 of a total electorate of 193,000 turned out to vote.

Leadership

Speaking at a news conference, Gayoom said: "This referendum was not about my leadership, it was about what form of government the people wanted to have in the future."

"But [with] this result, I am very much in position to say I am very happy with the endorsement, the massive endorsement that the people has given to our party position in the referendum."

He also rejected charges of vote-rigging from the opposition and called for cross-party unity.

Critics have said Gayoom is delaying the implementation of promised democratic reforms and say it is time he went.

Aides say he will run for office in the country's first multi-party election, due to take place next year.

Political parties were only legalised in the Maldives in 2005.

'Intimidation'

Gayoom's Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party's (DRP) and rival MDP accused each other of intimidating voters and breaking election rules.

Election officials said ballot papers were short at some stations, and ordered a recount of one ballot box.

Mariya Didi, an MDP spokeswoman, said: "It is an ill-gotten result ... Look at how they used state media, bribery, corruption, voter intimidation and threats to withhold jobs.

"It comes as no surprise. The MDP always said giving ballot boxes to election officials appointed by the president was like taking Dracula to the blood bank."

Gayoom's critics say he is stalling on implementing a raft of democratic reforms pledged in late 2004 to revamp the power structure in the face of harsh criticism of the government's rights record.

His opponents billed a vote for a parliamentary system as a vote for him to quit, saying revenues from 89 luxury island resorts are not benefiting the half of the population who live in poverty on about a dollar a day.

Dissent has also flared within the ranks of Gayoom's cabinet.

Two members quit earlier this month, accusing him of stalling on a new constitution and judicial independence.

Source: Al Jazeera