Challenger Mohamed Nasheed defeated Asia's longest serving leader, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, in a runoff election, officials said. Provisional results indicate Nasheed received 54 percent of the vote compared to 46 percent for Gayoom, the newspaper Hamaroahli reported Wednesday.

World in brief MALE The first multi-party presidential election in the Maldives will go to a second round of voting within 10 days after the incumbent, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, failed to win outright.

By Andrew Buncombe Island state has chance to oust 71-year-old dictator in first free vote for 20 years A MAN nicknamed the "Mandela of the Maldives", Mohammed Anni Nasheed, concluded an exhausting and bitterly-fought presidential election campaign last night, ahead of a vote that will decide the future of the longest serving political leader in Asia.

Text of report by Maldives pro-government newspaper Miadhu News website on 26 August Island Aviation Services has been re-branded from "Island" to "Maldivian" at a ceremony held for the purpose last night. Maldivian was officially inaugurated by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Text of report by Maldives privately-owned newspaper Haveeru Daily website on 22 May The foundation stones for the secondary school for girls being built in Male as a gift from the Japanese government was laid by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Japanese Ambassador to the Maldives Kyoki Arashi on Wednesday [21 May].