BBC News - Maldives election: Abdulla Yameen wins run-off vote 16 November 2013 Last updated at 18:40 Abdulla Yameen has won the presidential election run-off vote in the Maldives, according to near-final results. Mr Yameen had 51.3% of the vote compared with 48.6% for ex-President Mohamed Nasheed, with 98% of ballots counted, the Election Commission said. Mr Nasheed had won 47% in the first round this month, just short of the 50% needed for outright victory, in an election process mired in controversy. Mr Nasheed has accepted defeat, saying he supports the democratic process. He had been seeking to regain power after he was forced to resign in 2012. Mr Yameen is half-brother to Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled for 30 years. Postponements Imad Masood, a spokesman for outgoing President Mohamed Waheed, told Reuters news agency that there were "four more boxes yet to be counted, but they won't make any difference to the final results." But a tweet on the account of Mr Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) quoted him as saying: "The MDP respects the results of the election. We are a party that believes in democratic principles. He added: "As an opposition party it is our responsibility to make sure that democracy survives." There have been months of legal and political wrangling over the election, causing concern among foreign diplomats. The Supreme Court annulled a first vote on 7 September amid allegations of electoral fraud. A planned re-run on 19 October was halted and the election finally took place on 9 November. However, a first attempt to hold a run-off the following day was cancelled hours before voting was due to begin. Police prevented election officials from distributing voting materials, citing a court order requiring all candidates to approve the voter register. The European Union had said it would take "appropriate measures" if the election was not run on Saturday.