Maldives' presidential transition has been initiated from Tuesday, the country's president elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said vowing to bring much needed change to the archipelago.
Speaking during an impromptu main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) national council sit-down, the veteran lawmaker admitted that the people had come out in great numbers to end tyranny and corruption.
He pointed out that the real work to bring the country back on track would now begin, revealing that he was already engaged in the transition of power.
"We have a very difficult and long road ahead of us. There is a lot of work to be done. So I ask everyone to cooperate even at this transition stage. Once we begin that work, we would especially need the guidance and cooperation of the MDP national council," he said.
Just a little over a quarter million people in the tropical island nation voted on Sunday in an election amid mounting international concerns for a lack of transparency and suppression of government critics.
The election widely regarded more as a referendum than an election saw incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom seeking re-election go against the veteran lawmaker Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Throughout Sunday, Solih maintained a healthy lead but pulled well clear as Yameen lost key electorates despite significant pledges of development in the next five years.
Solih had been backed by Yameen's main political rivals including the now jailed former presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Nasheed along with Jumhoory Party leader and business tycoon Gasim Ibrahim.
Preliminary results from Sunday's election shows an overwhelming victory for the opposition alliance with Solih securing 58 percent of the votes.
