[An Nahar] The president of the Maldives on Friday promised a free and fair election this weekend 18 months after a violent change of leadership shook the Indian Ocean archipelago."The atmosphere is ready for free and fair elections," Mohamed Waheed told Agence La Belle France Presse as the candidates standing in the presidential poll wrapped up campaigning in the popular holiday destination.
"I have given an assurance of my government's full support for anyone who wins the election," he added, speaking from the cramped capital of the nation of around 350,000 people.
In February last year, the Maldives' first freely elected president, Mohamed Nasheed, resigned after a mutiny by police which he claimed was a coup orchestrated by former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Waheed, who was vice-president under Nasheed, was swiftly sworn in to replace his former boss who continues to call the current administration a "traitor government".
Both men are standing in Saturday's vote, along with Gasim Ibrahim, a wealthy tourist resort tycoon, and Abdulla Yameen, the half-brother of Gayoom.
Nasheed is expected to easily win, but he needs more than 50 percent to avoid a run-off when his opponents would be expected to join together to oppose him.
His opponent in a run-off on September 28 would most likely be Yameen, observers say.
"We are apprehensive that renegade elements within the police and military... might intervene during voting or during counting," Nasheed told a presser on Thursday.