PM assures full support to new Maldives president

"I would like to reiterate what I had the occasion to mention to your excellency when we met in Delhi earlier this year, namely, that India attaches the highest importance to its relationship with the Maldives."



"As you prepare to take office, I wish you a successful tenure and assure you of India's full support in your endeavour to provide a peaceful and prosperous future for the people of Maldives," he said in a congratulatory message.

Yameen, the candidate of the Progressive Party, is the half-brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the Indian Ocean atoll nation with an iron hand for 30 years. He was sworn in Sunday as the Maldives' sixth president.

Yameen, 54, is a four-time member of parliament and won the presidential poll narrowly by garnering 51.6 percent of the vote cast in the second and final run-off of the election held Saturday. His rival and former president Mohamed Nasheed got 48.61 percent of the vote.