Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has declared victory in the Maldives' presidential election Sunday, following controversial campaign observers said was rigged in favour of strongman President Abdulla Yameen. Solih had the backing of a united opposition trying to oust Yameen and triumphed despite struggling for visibility with the electorate, with local media fearful of falling foul of heavy-handed decrees and reporting restrictions.

"I call on Yameen to respect the will of the people and bring about a peaceful, smooth transfer of power," Solih said on national television shortly after official results showed he had an unassailable 58 percent of the popular vote.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2018