Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Trouble in paradise: Maldives crisis explained

The exiled ex-president of the Maldives has called for other countries to intervene in a political crisis engulfing the island nation.

Mohamed Nasheed asked India to help release prisoners and the US to curb leaders' financial transactions.

Turmoil began when current President Abdulla Yameen refused to release political dissidents, defying a court order and sparking protests.

On Tuesday night, the Supreme Court revoked its move to free the prisoners.

Two of its top judges had already been arrested. The remaining three have now issued a statement, saying the order was being rescinded "in light of the concerns raised by the president", according to AFP news agency.

The government has declared a state of emergency, while the opposition has called the arrest of the two judges a "purge".

There has also been international condemnation of the government's moves, with the US expressing concern.

President Yameen gave a televised address to the country on Tuesday, saying judges had been plotting a coup.

"I had to declare a national emergency because there was no other way to investigate these judges," he said.

The Indian Ocean island nation is made up of 26 coral atolls and 1,192 islands, and tourism is a vital part of its economy.

Regional power play

By Olivia Lang, BBC News

Under President Yameen, China has increased its influence in the Maldives as part of its "string of pearls" strategy in the Indian Ocean.

India - which has traditionally viewed itself as the island nation's "big brother" - is not happy.

Delhi is now very much aligned with former President Mohamed Nasheed, who is in exile in Sri Lanka.

Mr Nasheed told me he wanted an Indian official "with enough clout" to go to the Maldives, "backed by the military". But he refused to be drawn on what exactly this meant.

While India is unlikely to take military action, it would not look unfavourably at any move to dislodge Mr Yameen from power.

What did the ex-president say?

Mr Nasheed called on India to put pressure on the Maldives government to release opposition detainees.

He also asked the US to restrict Maldivian leaders' transactions through US banks.

In a statement, Mr Nasheed added: "President Yameen has illegally declared martial law and overrun the state. We must remove him from power."

Mr Nasheed was an opposition leader under a former government and became the country's first democratically elected leader in 2008, but was ousted and jailed in 2012.

A Maldivian minister to the UN, Jeffrey Salim Waheed, called his intervention "treason" and "the single biggest attempt to undermine the Maldives' sovereignty".

How did we get here?

Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of opposition politicians. It also ruled that Mr Nasheed's trial, held in 2015, had been unconstitutional.

The country's police commissioner said he would enforce the court's ruling and, in response, the government of President Yameen sacked him.

The army has now been ordered to resist any attempt to impeach or remove President Yameen.

Police arrested Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge, Ali Hameed, hours after the government declared a state of emergency.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has allied himself with the opposition, was detained at his home.

In a video posted online, the ex-president addressed his supporters (in Divehi), saying that he had not "done anything to warrant arrest" while urging them to "remain strong".

The state of emergency gives security forces enhanced powers to make arrests, and means public gatherings are banned.

What does this mean for tourists?

The political crisis comes during the country's peak tourism season, when tens of thousands of foreigners visit the Maldives' beaches.

China, the US, India and the UK are among those issuing warnings to travellers in the Maldives.

The UK's Foreign Office said British nationals in the capital, Male, should "exercise caution and avoid any protests or rallies", but that outlying islands and resorts - and the international airport - were not affected.

Tourism was worth $2.7bn (£1.9bn) to the Maldivian economy in 2016. It is the biggest industry in the country - home to just 400,000 people - and could be hit hard if the crisis worsens and puts people off travelling. </s> The archipelago was plunged into chaos on Thursday when the Supreme Court called for the release of 9 imprisoned opposition politicians.

Mohamed Nasheed, whose Maldivian Democratic Party functions from Colombo, asked for India's help. (Photo: AP)

Colombo: Exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed Tuesday urged India to "act swiftly" to help in resolving the ongoing political crisis in the island nation that escalated after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency and troops arrested the top judge of the country.

The archipelago was plunged into chaos on Thursday when the Supreme Court called for the release of nine imprisoned opposition politicians, ruling that their trials were politically motivated and flawed.

The government refused to implement the ruling, prompting a wave of protests in the capital, Male, with angry clashes between police and demonstrators.

Abdulla Yameen Monday declared a state of emergency. Within hours, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge, Ali Hameed, were arrested. No details were given about the investigation or any charges.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has allied himself with the opposition, was detained at his home.

Mohamed Nasheed, whose Maldivian Democratic Party functions from Colombo, asked for India's help. He urged India to "act swiftly" to resolve the crisis.

"President Yameen's announcement which declares a state of emergency, the banning of fundamental freedoms, and the suspension of the Supreme Court is tantamount to a declaration of martial law in the Maldives. This declaration is unconstitutional and illegal. Nobody in the Maldives is required to, nor should, follow this unlawful order," Mr Nasheed said.

Also Read: Maldives: Political crisis deepens as govt warns SC against impeachment

Mohamed Nasheed also expressed concern over Yameen's deliberate delay in implementing the Supreme Court ruling to immediately release political prisoners.

"This deliberate refusal by the government to uphold the Constitution further destabilises the Maldives and wider Indian Ocean security," Mr Nasheed said.

Mohamed Nasheed, 50, the country's first democratically-elected leader -- was sentenced to 13 years in jail on terror charges in March 2015 over the arbitrary arrest of chief criminal judge Abdullah Muhammed during his presidency.

He was granted asylum in the UK after he was authorised to seek medical treatment there amid mounting foreign pressure.

Mr Nasheed was narrowly defeated in 2013 by President Yameen. He says his conviction on terror charges was politically motivated.

The Maldivian government holds that Mohamed Nasheed is convicted for a crime and is wanted in the Maldives to serve a jail sentence. Mr Nasheed said he will seek UN support to ensure he is allowed to contest. </s> India on Tuesday said that it was disturbed by the situation in the Maldives where President Abdulla Yameen has declared a state of emergency and has put judges and political leaders behind the bars.”We are disturbed by the declaration of a state of emergency in the Maldives following the refusal of the government to abide by the unanimous ruling of the full bench of the Supreme Court on February 1, and also by the suspension of constitutional rights of the people of Maldives,” the External Affairs Ministry said in statement.

“The arrest of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and political figures are also reasons for concern,” it stated. “Government continues to carefully monitor the situation.”The statement comes after former Maldives President Mohammed Nasheed, earlier in the day, sought India’s help to resolve the raging political crisis in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation. Taking to Twitter, Nasheed said that he was requesting India, on behalf of the Maldivian people, to send its envoy, “backed by its military”, to release judges and political detainees, including former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom

Nasheed, who lives in self-exile in Britain, also requested the US “to stop all financial transactions of Maldives regime leaders going through US banks”. Meanwhile, in his first public statement after clamping a 15-day state of emergency and jailing the country’s Chief Justice, President Yameen in a live address on Tuesday said he had taken the move as the top judge and another apex court judge were involved in corruption and also alleged a “coup” by them – indirectly disobeying his orders, including making moves to impeach him.

Maldivian police arrested Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed from the Supreme Court at around 3 a.m., after an almost seven-hour siege and took them to a detention facility outside Male. The Maldives has been facing unrest after the Supreme Court ruled last week to release top opposition political leaders including former President Nasheed and former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb. The US State Department said it was “troubled and disappointed” by the developments in the archipelago nation, while British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called on President Yameen to lift the emergency. India, China and Britain have issued travel warnings for their citizens. </s> The former president of Maldives on Tuesday called on the United States and India to intervene in the ongoing crisis in the island nation.

Mohamed Nasheed made the request following several arrests in overnight, and President Abdulla Yameen's decision to declare a state of emergency.

"On behalf of Maldivian people we humbly request" the US "to stop all financial transactions of Maldives regime leaders going through US banks," Nasheed wrote on his Twitter account.

He also requested India provide "a physical presence" and to "send envoys, backed by its military" for the release of judges and political detainees including former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, president Yameen's half-brother, who has also been arrested.

The police have also arrested Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and other Supreme Court judges.

On Monday, the Maldives government declared a state of emergency for 15 days amid mounting tension due to Yameen's decision to defy a Supreme Court ruling.

On Feb. 1, the country's top court passed a ruling reinstating 12 lawmakers and dropping the charges against nine opposition politicians, including Nasheed.

It also ordered the release of the nine political prisoners, after concluding that "criminal proceedings were conducted based on political motivations (...) and the rulings were given subject to undue influence over judiciary and the prosecutor."

The president initially said he would abide by the order but on Monday he asked the highest judicial body to revoke its decision, saying it would potentially lead to an undermining of the supremacy of the constitution, which the court refused.

Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, was jailed over charges related to ordering the arrest of a judge during his tenure, a controversial process that his party insists was plagued with irregularities.

The former president is currently in Colombo although he has been living in exile in London since May 2016. </s> An opposition leader in the Maldives has called on India to intervene after President Abdulla Yameen declared a 15-day state of emergency amid a deepening political crisis in the island nation.

Mohamed Nasheed, the country's exiled former president, urged neighbouring India on Tuesday to send "an envoy, backed by its military" to free two Supreme Court judges and a former president who were arrested in the capital Male after the emergency declaration.

"We are asking for a physical presence," Nasheed said in his appeal.

He also urged the United States to impose targeted sanctions on Yameen and his associates.

The Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago, was plunged into turmoil on February 1 when its Supreme Court issued a shock ruling that overturned terrorism convictions against nine of Yameen's opponents, including Nasheed, and ordered those in jail be freed.

Yameen defied the ruling and ignored calls from the United Nations, European Union, and foreign governments, including India and the US, to comply with it.

In a televised address on Tuesday, the president said he declared a state of emergency to investigate a "coup" against him.

Accusing Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Judge Ali Hameed of corruption and judicial overreach, Yameen said the bench had deliberated on removing him and his attorney general, and discussed reinstating two police chiefs he had sacked over the weekend.

"I had to declare a state of emergency because I had no way to hold a judge of the Supreme Court accountable," he said. "I had to suspend [their immunity] to find out how thick this plot, this coup was."

The emergency decree gave security forces sweeping powers to make arrests and curtailed the authority of the judiciary.

Shortly after the emergency was announced on Monday, security forces stormed the Supreme Court building and arrested Saeed and Hameed. The remaining three judges on the top court bench were not detained.

Yameen's estranged half-brother, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has sided with the opposition, was also detained in the early hours of Tuesday.

Police also took Mohamed Nazim, a former defence minister who was under house imprisonment, into custody on Tuesday. Nazim was sentenced to 11-years in jail on weapons smuggling charges in 2015, and was among the nine whose release the top court had ordered last week.

Meanwhile, the parliament, where the opposition have a majority, remained suspended.

In his appeal on Tuesday, Nasheed, the former president, accused Yameen of declaring "martial law" in the Maldives.

"We must remove him from power," he said.

"We would also like the US government to ensure that US financial institutions stop all US$ financial transactions of the regime leaders in the Maldives," he added.

There was no immediate reaction from the US and India to Nasheed's appeal.

India's Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement on Tuesday, said it was "disturbed" by the state of emergency in the Maldives

The US meanwhile called for restraint.

"The Maldivian government and military must respect the rule of law, freedom of expression, and democratic institutions. The world is watching," the US National Security Council said in a Twitter post on Monday.

The UN, EU and UK have urged Yameen to revoke the emergency.

China, India, Australia and the US have issued travel advisories for the Maldives. </s> As political crisis deepens in the Maldives, President Abdulla Yameen on Tuesday stated that the emergency decree is to investigate the plot and coup behind the Supreme Court ruling, news agency AP reported. The crisis had worsened Monday when President Yameen declared a state of emergency and, within hours of the emergency declaration, two top judges, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge, Ali Hameed, were arrested.

Earlier on Tuesday, exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed sought for India’s diplomatic and military intervention to resolve the ongoing issue. Nasheed, the president of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which functions from Colombo, appealed for help from India. A statement issued by the party in Colombo said, “We would like the Indian government to send an envoy, backed by its military, to free the judges and the political detainees, including former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, from their detention and to bring them to their homes. We are asking for a physical presence.”

Violence erupted in the capital, Male, after President Abdulla Yameen defied Supreme Court orders to release nine imprisoned opposition politicians, ruling that their trials were politically motivated and flawed.

Stating the martial law as illegal, Nasheed was quoted by PTI as saying: “President Yameen’s announcement — which declares a state of emergency, the banning of fundamental freedoms, and the suspension of the Supreme Court — is tantamount to a declaration of martial law in the Maldives. This declaration is unconstitutional and illegal. Nobody in the Maldives is required to, nor should, follow this unlawful order.”

Urging the US to stop all transactions of the Yameen regime’s leaders, the exiled leader added, “We must remove him from power. The people of the Maldives have a legitimate request to world governments, especially to India and the United States.”

Expressing concerns over Yameen’s delay in implementing the Supreme Court ruling to immediately release political prisoners, Nasheed had earlier said, “This deliberate refusal by the government to uphold the Constitution further destabilises the Maldives and wider Indian Ocean security.”

Meanwhile, the US on Tuesday commenting on the ongoing political chaos in the island nation said that it was ‘troubled and disappointed’ and has asked President Yameen to implement the Supreme Court ruling. A report in PTI quoted State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert saying, “The US is troubled and disappointed by reports that Maldivian President Yameen has declared a state of emergency.”

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App </s> The Maldives' exiled former president is calling on India and the United States to intervene in his country's political crisis.

Mohammed Nasheed issued a statement Tuesday urging India to send an envoy -- backed by its military forces -- to the tiny Indian Ocean archipelago to free imprisoned Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and court Judge Ali Hameed. Saeed and Hameed were arrested earlier Tuesday when security forces stormed the Supreme Court building in the capital, Male, just hours after President Abdulla Yameen declared a 15-day state of emergency.

"President Yameen has illegally declared martial law and overrun the state. We must remove him from power," Nasheed said in his statement. "We are asking for a physical presence." He also called on Washington to impose a freeze on all financial transactions of government officials.

Nasheed was elected president in the Maldives' first mulitparty election in 2008, but he resigned in 2012 amid a military takeover. He lost the 2013 presidential race to Yameen, and was then tried and convicted of terrorism charges in a trial criticized by human rights activists. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, but later granted medical leave last year to travel to Britain, where he was granted asylum.

Police said in a Twitter message they had arrested Chief Justice Saeed and Judge Hameed "for an ongoing investigation." They gave no details about the allegations or charges against the two judges.

In addition to the two jurors, security forces also arrested former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

President Yameen imposed the state of emergency after refusing to comply with a Supreme Court order to release detained political leaders.

"During this time, though certain rights will be restricted, general movements, services and businesses will not be affected," a statement issued by the president's office said.

Yameen's administration defied the top court's order last week to release the prisoners, and asked the court Monday to revoke it.

Democratic gains in the Maldives have eroded under the leadership of Yameen, who has conducted a crackdown on the opposition and the press. </s> NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday expressed concerns over the political crisis prevailing in Maldives.

"Prevailing political developments in Maldives and resultant law and order situation is a matter of concern for GoI. Indian nationals are advised to defer all non-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice," the ministry said.

MEA further said, "Indian expatriates in Maldives are also alerted to the need for heightened security awareness, and urged to exercise due caution in public and avoid public gatherings."

The MEA also issued an advisory for the Indian Nationals traveling to Maldives. The ministry's official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar took to Twitter and said, "Indian nationals are advised to defer all non-essential travel to Male and other atolls untill further notice. Detailed travel advisory at http://mymea.in/cx4"

"The prevailing political developments in Maldives and the resultant law and order situation is a matter of concern for the Government of India. Indian nationals are, therefore, advised to defer all non-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice. Indian expatriates in Maldives are also alerted to the need for heightened security awareness, and urged to exercise due caution in public and avoid public gatherings," the advisory read.

Amid massive protests, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Gayoom declared a state of emergency for a period of 15 days. "All basic rights have been suspended. Security forces have sweeping powers to arrest and search," Member of Parliament, Eva Abdulla said.

The protests erupted after President Gayoom refused to follow the Supreme Court's ruling to release the key political prisoners and reinstate the 12 MPs. The high-profile prisoners also include self-exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb.

Last Thursday, the Supreme Court had ruled that all politicians opposed to President Gayoom, including Nasheed, should be released. It had further said that their trials were "politically influenced".

The government has so far refused to implement the order, saying it had concerns about releasing those who were convicted for "terrorism, graft, embezzlement and treason".

It said it had been advised by the Chief Justice to follow "due process in releasing the detainees".

Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, took office in 2008. He was ousted in a coup in February 2012.

The country has seen political unrest since he was sentenced to 13 years in jail in 2015 on terrorism charges. He was given political asylum in the UK in 2016. </s> Maldivian opposition supporters scuffle with security forces officers during a protest demanding the release of political prisoners in Male. (File Photo | AP)

NEW DELHI: With Maldives in turmoil following a face-off between the government and its Supreme Court, India is expected to follow a standard operating procedure (SOP) that includes keeping the troops in readiness, government sources indicated today.

India, which said it was "disturbed" over the situation in the archipelago nation, has already issued a travel advisory as part of the SOP but officials would not confirm one of its crucial aspects pertaining to keeping troops on standby.

Sources said troop movement has been seen at a key airbase in Southern India.

According to the SOP, the troops are kept ready to meet any eventuality, crisis or requirement for help, sources said, adding there is nothing unusual about such SOPs.

Significantly, exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed today sought India's diplomatic and military intervention to resolve the crisis in the country after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency and got arrested the top judge of the country's apex court.

The Indian Navy patrols sea lanes around Maldives as naval cooperation between the two countries are robust.

India had yesterday asked its nationals to defer all nonessential travels to the Indian Ocean nation until further notice.

In an advisory, the external affairs ministry also asked Indian expatriates in Maldives to maintain heightened security awareness.

The picturesque Indian Ocean archipelago, which has seen a number of political crises since the ouster of its first democratically-elected president Nasheed in 2012, plunged into chaos on Thursday last when the apex court ordered the release of nine imprisoned opposition politicians, maintaining that their trials were "politically motivated and flawed".

The Yameen government refused to implement the order, prompting a wave of protests in capital Male, with clashes between police and demonstrators.

Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge, Ali Hameed, were arrested hours after President Yameen declared a state of emergency yesterday. No details were given about the investigation or charges against them.

Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has allied himself with the opposition, was also detained at his home. </s> NEW DELHI: Beleaguered Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has declared a 15-day state of Emergency, his aide Azima Shukoor announced on state television on Monday night. The move gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects as Yameen refuses to comply with a Supreme Court order to release political prisoners.India is in touch with friendly countries including West Asian nations after the Supreme Court of Maldives sought its intervention amid a snowballing political crisis as President Abdulla Yameen chose to suspend parliament instead of complying with the court's order directing release of nine lawmakers, a step that would have restored the opposition's majority."As a matter of principle India does not interfere in the internal politics of any country. But it won't be surprising if any of the friendly countries impresses upon President Abdullah Yameen to arrest the situation," said an expert on India-Maldives relations, who did not wish to be identified.Some of the West Asian nations have a strong influence on Yameen. "Maldives is extremely critical for India's security interests and the unfolding situation warrants close monitoring," the expert said.India, like some other countries in the region and beyond, has been worried over the growing trend of fundamentalism in Maldives, where sections of youth have been lured to join ISIS. The latest crisis was triggered when the Maldivian SC last Thursday ordered the release of some opposition leaders, including former president Mohammed Nasheed, after overturning their "terrorism" convictions.
Former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed calls from exile for other countries to intervene in a political crisis engulfing the island nation. Nasheed asks India to help release prisoners and the United States to curb leaders' financial transactions.