World

Maldives state of emergency declared by government amid political crisis

February 5, 2018 4:09 pm

The Maldives government has declared a state of emergency for 15 days amid a political crisis in the island nation.

The state of emergency gives security officials extra powers to arrest suspects, reports say.

The government has already suspended parliament and ordered the army to resist any moves by the Supreme Court to impeach President Abdulla Yameen.

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A few hours after the emergency was declared, security forces entered the Supreme Court, a court spokesman said.

There were judges inside the court but the spokesman said he was unable to contact them.

The court had ordered the reinstatement of 12 MPs, which would see the opposition majority restored.

In a landmark decision, it also ruled the trial of former President Mohamed Nasheed unconstitutional.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday, the government sacked the police commissioner who had pledged to enforce the court ruling.