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Self-exiled Nasheed begins primary campaign via Skype

Self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed on Saturday officially launched his campaign for the upcoming Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential primary via Skype.

Nasheed lives in self imposed exile most recently in Sri Lanka after he was allowed to leave to the UK on medical leave in an internationally brokered deal following his jailing on terrorism charges.

Nasheed's 13 year prison sentence definitely rules him out of the elections in September. But the ex-president has announced his intention to contest the MDP primary on May 30.

The former president had announced the times for several islands across southernmost Atoll Addu and Haa Alif Atoll.

He had announced plans to establish a unity government with the other political leaders.

The main opposition leaders including former presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Nasheed along with Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim and religiously conservative Adhaalath Party (AP) leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla inked pact to form what they called a 'reform alliance'.

With the candidacy of the four leaders - all convicted and serving sentences on questionable charges in serious doubt, the united opposition had announced plans to nominate a single candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.