People have spoken
♦ Police chief promises to uphold election result
♦ Yameen's party lodged several complaints of vote irregularities: EC
The Maldives' military chief on Wednesday quashed speculation that outgoing President Abdulla Yameen would try to cling on to power, telling the nation that the armed forces would "protect the will of the people".
Yameen decisively lost the country's Sunday presidential election to opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, despite warnings from private poll monitors that the electoral process had been rigged in favour of the incumbent.
Formal poll results will be announced by the election commission on Sunday and Yameen must hand over power to Solih on November 17 at the end of his five-year term.
But rumours have abounded on social media and elsewhere that Yameen could file an election petition seeking the delay of the announcement, prompting military chief Major General Ahmed Shiyam to appear on a private TV channel promising the results would be honoured.
"The people have spoken," Shiyam said. "I want to assure the Maldivian people that the military will protect the will of the people."
Police chief Abdulla Nawaz issued a similar televised statement on the same day. Election commission chief Ahmed Shareef confirmed that Yameen's party lodged several complaints of vote irregularities.
"We will look into these concerns," Shareef said, adding that there were no grounds for him to delay the announcement of the formal results.
Meanwhile, Maldivian opposition yesterday appealed to the international community to help ensure a peaceful transition of power amid fears that strongman Abdulla Yameen may cling onto power despite his shock election defeat.
The joint opposition, which includes four political parties that successfully put forward the little-known Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at Sunday's vote, called for external help to re-establish democracy in the tiny Indian Ocean archipelago.
"In this regard, we look towards our friends and partners in the international community to assist us, as we move forward in trying to create a Maldives in which all citizens can enjoy peace, prosperity and justice," the opposition said in a statement.
It did not say what form of assistance was requested, but opposition sources said they were looking for strong foreign warnings to Yameen to go quietly.
Earlier Wednesday, the opposition accused Yameen of delaying the release of high-profile political prisoners despite calls by his successor for their release.
Shortly after his shock defeat, Yameen freed five prisoners. But scores of others -- including Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, his estranged half-brother and former president -- remain incarcerated.
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