Male (Maldives), Jan 30: A total of 42 legislators were elected to the new Maldives parliament for a five-year term in a "partyless democracy" elections, a report in the Haveeru newsaper said.

The Commissioner of Elections Ibrahim Rashad said 42 legislators were elected by more than 70 percent of the eligible voters from 20 atolls. The capital Male elected two legislators.

The candidates contested as individuals because there are no political parties in this Indian Ocean archipelago.

Under strict election laws, the candidates can buy time on radio and television, but they cannot hold any public meeting.

Under the Maldives constitution the People's Majlis or parliament comprises of 50 members with two elected by popular vote from each of 20 atolls and capital Male and eight appointed by the president.

The last elections were held Nov 20 1999. The elections were scheduled for Dec 31 but were postponed to Jan 22 due to the unprecedented tidal waves, which devastated South Asia, killing 82 people and damaging more than 2,000 houses in the Maldives.

There were 156,766 qualified voters who voted in 387 polling stations located across the Indian Ocean archipelago. A total of 149 candidates contested the elections.

Courtesy Indo-Asian News Service