Voters in the Maldives have elected the brother of the nation's former strongman as president.
Yaamin Abdul Gayoom defeated former president Mohamed Nasheed, getting 51.3 percent of the vote.
Last Saturday, in the first round of presidential voting, Mr. Nasheed received 47 percent of the vote, falling short of the majority needed to win outright.
Gayoom is the brother of former autocrat Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the archipelago nation with an iron fist for 30 years before being toppled in 2008 elections by Nasheed.
Saturday's runoff election came amid international pressure for the Maldives to end months of political unrest. The runoff was originally scheduled for November 10, but the Supreme Court in the Maldives ordered a postponement after a defeated candidate petitioned for a delay.
Yaamin Abdul Gayoom defeated former president Mohamed Nasheed, getting 51.3 percent of the vote.
Last Saturday, in the first round of presidential voting, Mr. Nasheed received 47 percent of the vote, falling short of the majority needed to win outright.
Gayoom is the brother of former autocrat Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the archipelago nation with an iron fist for 30 years before being toppled in 2008 elections by Nasheed.
Saturday's runoff election came amid international pressure for the Maldives to end months of political unrest. The runoff was originally scheduled for November 10, but the Supreme Court in the Maldives ordered a postponement after a defeated candidate petitioned for a delay.