Maldives: India says disturbed by declaration of emergency
Abdulla Yameen, Maldives, government scuttling
The Supreme Court on Thursday called for an immediate release of former president Mohamed Nasheed along with eight other opposition leaders
India has reacted to the ongoing political crisis that simmers in the Maldives saying that it is disturbed by the declaration of emergency in the Maldives where the government refused to abide by the unanimous ruling of Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court on Thursday called for an immediate release of former president Mohamed Nasheed along with eight other opposition leaders. The court also demanded their fresh trials noting the previous proceedings to have violated the constitution and international law.
The former president and other eight leaders face charges ranging from terrorism to treason and corruption.
The President of Maldives Abdul Yameen quashed the apex court's directive and declared a state of national emergency for 15 days. Shortly after the emergency was declared, Former President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom along with top justices was arrested. President Abdulla Yameen ordered security forces to seize control of the court and arrest the chief justice among others.
The exiled leader of the Maldives opposition Mohamed Nasheed urged the US and India to help remove the president from office, saying he had "illegally" declared martial law.
Yameen, on the other hand, accused judges of plotting to overthrow him, hours after he declared a state of emergency and ordered the arrest of the chief justice.