Official: Maldives adopts new constitution

Colombo: Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom signed and adopted a new constitution Thursday that allows multiparty elections and a number of other key democratic reforms after decades of authoritarian rule.

The new constitution also embodies for the first time independent bodies for human rights, judiciary, police, defense, election and corruption investigation, government spokesman Mohammed Shareef said.

Accordingly, the first multiparty presidential election will be held before October 10. The specific date will be announced after an election commissioner is appointed within 30 days as stipulated in the constitution, he said.

"This is an important milestone for us, many many things will change from this point onwards," Shareef said.

The opposition praised the move.

"For the first time the people are getting to chose a president and we have ended the autocratic powers of the president," said Ahmed Shaeed, a former foreign minister under Gayoom and currently a member of opposition New Maldives party.
A special 114-member council representing political parties and elected representatives prepared and voted on the constitutional draft before it was endorsed by the president.

Thursday was declared a national holiday to allow the people witness the signing ceremony televised live.