Maldives govt declares 15-day emergency; India, China release travel advisory

New Delhi: The Maldives government has declared a 15-day state of emergency as political tensions on the island nation continue to intensify.

Legal Affairs Minister Azima Shakoor made the announcement on Monday evening on state television.

Maldives plunged into political turmoil last week after the country’s top court threw out a “terrorism” conviction against its former president Mohamed Nasheed and ordered the release of nine other jailed politicians.

The ruling dealt a blow to President Abdulla Yameen with critics accusing him of corruption, misrule, and rights abuses. He denies the allegations.

Soldiers in riot gear surrounded the parliament building in the capital Male on Sunday soon after the opposition petitioned parliament to remove the South Asian island’s attorney-general and its chief prosecutor.

Earlier on Monday Shakoor said, “the government does not believe that the Supreme Court ruling to release the political prisoners can be enforced”.

India has released a travel advisory for Maldives:

“Indian nationals are, therefore, advised to defer all non-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice.”

China has meanwhile asked its citizens to stay away from visiting Maldives considering the crisis there.