Exiled opposition leader vows to run for president

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February 2, 2018 12:05 PM

Nasheed was barred from contesting any election in the Maldives after the controversial 2015 conviction on a terrorism charge widely criticised as politically motivated.

Exiled Maldives opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed vowed Friday to run for president after the Supreme Court overturned his criminal conviction, saying it was politically motivated.

"I can contest and will contest," the country's first democratically elected president told AFP in Colombo a day after the ruling.

"We must set up proper procedures for inclusive, free and fair elections with full international observation."

He has urged the government to respect the top court's shock decision to quash the convictions of nine dissidents and order the release of those serving jail sentences.

The ruling brought opposition activists onto the streets in celebration, sparking clashes with police who fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

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