MALE, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen on Monday conceded defeat at the presidential polls, hours after the Elections Commission declared that opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had secured victory.
In an address to the nation from the President's Office, Yameen congratulated Solih and his party members and said he had accepted the results.
"The citizens of the Maldives had their say yesterday. And I accept that result," Yameen said in a televised speech.
"I have served the Maldivian public sincerely. But the public have made a decision on my service yesterday. So I intend to accept that result and once again, to remain in their service," Yameen added.
The president further said he had met the opposition leader at the President's Office in Male shortly before his public speech. He had also met his party members from the Progressive Party of Maldives.
Yameen said he will stay in the presidency until the end of his term on November 17.
The Foreign Ministry earlier Monday said in a statement that the new president and vice-president elect are expected to be sworn in on November 17.
According to provisional results released by the Elections Commission, Solih had won the polls after securing 58.3 percent votes.
Solih received 134,616 votes while Yameen received 96,132 votes.
233,877 voters cast their votes at the polls on Sunday.
The Elections Commission said that voting proceeded smoothly and peacefully, with no reported incidents.
