Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom signed and adopted a new constitution yesterday that allows multiparty elections and anumber of other key democratic reforms after decades of authoritarian rule.

The new constitution also embodies for the first time independent bodies for human rights, judiciary, police, defence, election and corruption investigation, government spokesman Mohammed Shareef said.

Accordingly, the first multiparty presidential election will be held before Oct. 10. The specific date will be announced after an election commissioner is appointed within 30 days as stipulated in thp constitution, hesaid.

"This is an important milestone for us, many many things will

change from this point onwards," Shareef said.

Gayoom has ruled the Islamic nation with tight controls for the past 30 years, and he promised in 2004 to enact a new constitution amid widespread protests demandingreform.

During his rule, the nation made up of 1,190 coral islands and a population of 300,000 emerged as one of the most attractive tourist destinations and by far the most prosperous country in South Asia.

The opposition praised the move.

"For the first time the people are getting to chose a president and we have ended the autocratic powers of the president," said Ahmed Shaeed, a former foreign, minister under Gayoom and currently a member of opposition New Maldives party.