Maldives ruler falls to opposition
By Judith Evans
MALE, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Asia's longest-serving leader on Wednesday lost to a former political prisoner he repeatedly threw in jail, who took an unassailable lead in provisional results to decide who will lead the tropical Indian Ocean archipelago.
With 83 percent of all possible votes counted, incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had 46 percent versus 54 percent for his longtime nemesis, democracy activist Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed, provisional results from the Election Commmission said.
The vote is the culmination of years of agitation for democratic reforms on the string of 1,192 mostly uninhabited coral atolls 800 km (500 miles) off the tip of India, which Gayoom has been criticised for ruling like a personal sultanate.
Nasheed, 41, was at the fore of the campaign for democracy, including during 2004 protests that prompted a brutal crackdown by security forces and drew rare international criticism -- and attention -- to the hideaway islands.
Gayoom, 71, won the first round of the Oct. 9-10 election, the first multiparty poll in the former British protectorate's history, but did not get the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff.
Nasheed was second, but this time had the backing of the four contenders who placed behind him and Gayoom.
It is the first time Gayoom faced opposition at the polls since first being elected in 1978. In each of his six previous votes, he stood alone for a yes-no nod from voters.
Election Commissioner Mohamed Ibrahim said the commission would announce a final provisional result before noon (0700 GMT), and also give a date for a final official result. The election board has a maximum of seven days to give its verdict.
There are a little more than 209,000 registered voters, but no turnout figures were available.
Gayoom has pledged to hand over power peacefully if he loses.
