Polling to elect new Maldives president underway

By Anadolu staff

Polling for the election of a new president began in Maldives on Saturday, with incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih seeking a re-election.

Voting at 574 polling booths set up nationwide opened at 8 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), and will continue till 4 p.m.

More than 282,000 people are registered to vote, with eight candidates in the running for the top post.

Solih is facing stiff competition from Mohamed Muizzu, mayor of the capital Male.

If no candidate is able to secure over 50% of the vote, a run-off is scheduled for Sept. 30.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid