Polls close in Maldives after heavy turnout: Official

Polling booths in the Maldives closed Sunday after three hours of extended voting in a controversial election marred by police raids on the opposition and allegations of vote rigging in favour of president Abdulla Yameen.

An election official said voting was extended due to technical glitches involving electronic voter registers, as well as a heavy voter turnout. Those in the queue to vote by 19:00 (1400GMT) would still be allowed to cast their ballots, he added.

More than a quarter of a million people were eligible to vote in around 400 polling booths across the coral islands.

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Hundreds of people queued outside polling stations in the capital, Male, early on Sunday. On some islands, people started queuing on Saturday night.

Hardline President Abdulla Yameen is expected to cement his grip on power in the election.

The opposition and international groups have criticised for a lack of transparency and suppression of dissent.

A candidate must secure 50 per cent of the vote to win outright, failing which there would be a runoff three days later, according to election laws, but since there are only two candidates there will be no second round.

Yameen's government has jailed many of his main rivals, including former president and his half-brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, on charges ranging from terrorism to corruption.

The process is being closely watched by regional rivals India and China, who are jostling to influence Indian Ocean nations. The European Union and the United States, meanwhile, have threatened sanctions if the vote is not free and fair.

(With inputs from agencies)