UNITED NATIONS, United States: UN leader Ban Ki-moon on Monday joined international opposition to the cancelation of a presidential election in the Maldives that has heightened tensions in the Indian Ocean nation.

Ban is “deeply concerned” by the new delay in the vote and called for “political leaders and state institutions to live up to their responsibilities, respect the democratic process and participate in a credible, peaceful and inclusive re-run election as soon as possible,” said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky.

Maldives police on Saturday halted an election runoff that opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed was expected to win. The European Union and India have also expressed deep concern.

Nasheed, who was toppled as Maldives leader 20 months ago, has called on President Mohamed Waheed to step down and let the speaker of parliament conduct a fresh presidential vote.

Ban said the vote should be held as quickly as possible so that “a new president can be inaugurated on Nov. 11 in accordance with the constitution,” said the UN spokesman.

“The aspirations and the will of the Maldivian people were expressed in the 88 percent participation of eligible voters in the Sept.7 election. The secretary general strongly believes that the legitimate will of the people should not be denied,” said Nesirky.

The UN has sent an envoy to the Maldives several times in a bid to press for a negotiated end to political tensions in the state, which adopted multi-party democracy in 2008.

Demand for fresh vote

Maldivian opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed on Sunday demanded fresh elections under a caretaker president, a day after police forced the postponement of a vote he was expected to win.

The European Union joined regional power India in expressing “deep concerns” about the growing turmoil in the Indian Ocean archipelago, which is popular with well-heeled foreign tourists and adopted multi-party democracy in 2008.

Nasheed, a former president who was toppled 20 months ago, told reporters in the capital Male that outgoing President Mohamed Waheed should step down immediately and allow the speaker of parliament to conduct a fresh presidential vote.

“We believe that the only prudent way forward and the solution is for Waheed to resign and the speaker of parliament to take over the government until elections are over,” Nasheed said.