Voting for controversial presidential election in Maldives begins on Sunday

Voting began Sunday in a controversial presidential election in the Maldives, hours after police raided the opposition's campaign headquarters, officials and party workers said.

Hundreds of men and women lined up to vote before polling booths opened at 8:00 am (0300 GMT) in the capital Male, where President Abdulla Yameen and his challenger Ibrahim Mohamed Solih were due to cast their ballots.