Maldives top court's U-turn: revokes order to release political leaders

Male [Maldives], Feb. 07 (ANI): The Maldives' Supreme Court late Tuesday revoked its order to release nine political dissidents, including self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed.

Amid the ongoing political crisis in the island nation, the Supreme Court on February 1 ordered the immediate release of the nine political leaders and also prohibited the judicial watchdog from probing any case against the top court bench.

The latest development has taken place after President Abdulla Yameen declared a 15-day state of emergency in the country on Monday, giving sweeping powers to security forces in the country, which is reeling under political turmoil under the present dispensation.

Under the emergency state, the constitutional rights have been suspended and this has effectively quashed any moves by the opposition to impeach him while also stripping the Supreme Court of any authority.

In the few hours since emergency state was declared, police have made a series of high profile arrests including former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, two top court judges, including the chief justice and the chief judicial administrator. (ANI)