Maldives votes in parliamentary polls

MALE, Mar 22 (AFP): Parliamentary elections got under way in the Maldives Saturday despite the island nation's new president expressing doubts over whether the vote can be conducted, officials said.
An ally of President Abdulla Yameen had petitioned the Supreme Court Thursday seeking a delay of Saturday's polls, arguing that a depleted Elections Commission may not be able to conduct the vote.
But with no court decision announced, "the election is going ahead as scheduled", Elections Commission official Aishath Reema told AFP.
Polls opened at 8:00 am (0300 GMT). "Balloting will be conducted over an eight hour period across the country," Reema said.
Former president Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party is the front-runner, but observers were doubtful if any single party will be able to take the assembly.