Boats take ballots for Maldives referendum

Ballot boxes travelled by boat to far-flung atolls in the Indian Ocean nation of the Maldives ahead of a landmark referendum on Saturday to decide the country's political future.
Voters are being asked to choose between a US-style presidential style or a Westminster parliamentary system but the fine print of both has yet to be spelled out by government.
"All ballot boxes -- 427 in total -- have been sent to the atolls and the surrounding resort and industrial islands," election official Shauaid Yoosuf said. "In total, 194,000 people are registered to vote."
"The votes will be counted at the atolls and the results faxed to our office in Male to ensure results are announced as quickly as possible," Yoosuf said.
In this resort island of Bodhuhithi, election officials were due to arrive with ballot boxes early Saturday to allow local staff to cast their votes.
President Maumoom Abdul Gayoom, who has ruled this honeymoon destination since 1978, is staging the referendum ahead of the first multi-party elections slated for 2008.