Maldives President Mohamed Waheed ends election bid

Mohamed Waheed has been in power for just 18 months

Maldives President Mohamed Waheed has pulled out of this year's presidential election, after receiving 5% of the vote in the first round of the ballot.

Mr Waheed, who was installed after his predecessor Mohamed Nasheed was ousted last year, said his decision was in the greater interest of the Maldives.

Mr Nasheed won 45% of the vote and was to face a run-off with another rival.

But the courts annulled the result, and a new round of elections has been scheduled for later this month.

International observers had all praised the conduct of the first-round election, and the Supreme Court's decision was condemned by Mr Nasheed's supporters.

Mr Nasheed came to power in 2008 in the Maldives' first free elections, but resigned amid violent protests and a mutiny by senior police officers in February 2012.