Nasheed makes political comeback in Maldives

The Maldives yesterday held its first parliamentary election since former strongman leader Abdulla Yameen was forced to stand down, with his arch-rival expected to make a big comeback in the vote. Mohamed Nasheed, another former president, is the highest profile candidate up for election for the 87-member People's Majlis, or parliament. He returned from an enforced exile abroad after Yameen lost an election in September to Nasheed's deputy, Mohamed Ibrahim Solih. Solih said he expected yesterday's poll to return a strong legislature led by his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Nasheed is widely expected to play a key role in the new legislature. He was jailed for 13 years on a controversial terrorism charge when Yameen was in power. However, the conviction was overturned last year after the presidency changed.