Maldives heads toward presidential runoff but 1 candidate wants it postponed

MALE, Maldives – A runoff between the first democratically elected president of the Maldives and the brother of the country's former autocratic ruler appears likely based on nearly complete results in the island nation's presidential election. But there are doubts that the runoff can be held as planned on Sunday.

With only seven of the 475 ballot boxes from Saturday's first round to be counted, Mohamed Nasheed, who resigned as president last year, had 45 percent of the vote, while Yaamin Abdul Gayoom, the brother of 30-year-autocratic ruler Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, trailed with 30 percent.

A runoff between the top two candidates is required if no one receives at least 50 percent of the vote. Gayoom is seeking postponement of the runoff for at least 48 hours, saying he needs time to sort out alleged discrepancies in the voter register.