Maldives SC hears Yameen's petition to annul election result

maldives-yameen-protest-reuters Maldives opposition supporters protest demanding the arrest of defeated President Abdulla Yameen as the Supreme Court of the Maldives began to hear a petition challenging the outcome of last's month election in Male, Maldives | Reuters

Maldives Supreme Court judges heard a petition by president Abdulla Yameen to have his recent election defeat annulled. Yameen had lost heavily in the September 23 election to Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Yameen had earlier agreed to leave office on November 17 as the US, Europe and India mounted pressure. But, Yameen filed a request last week for the Supreme Court to annul the result and call fresh elections. India has been trying to counter the growing presence and influence of China in the archipelago.

Yameen had lost the election despite his main rivals being in jail or in exile and the media in his pocket. A statement on Saturday by his Progressive Party (PPM) said the vote was the "most farcical election in living memory" with the organisation "abysmal", vote-rigging "rampant" and many people unable to cast ballots.

The United States—which like the European Union threatened sanctions if the elections were not free and fair—on Saturday warned it would react if Yameen, 59, does not go quietly. "The US is concerned by troubling actions by outgoing president Yameen that threaten to undermine the will of the Maldivian people," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said on Twitter.

He added that Washington "will consider appropriate measures against anyone who undermines a peaceful transfer of power in #Maldives".

The Supreme Court in the capital Male adjourned on Sunday after proceedings that lasted several hours, and will resume on Monday. Dozens of people queued up outside the Supreme Court on Sunday to get inside several hours before the hearing began. It started with the court allowing all opposition parties to have their say. A handful of people held placards, including "Arrest Yameen".

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