Maldives crisis: Oppn MPs receiving death threats

Male [Maldives], Feb 07 (ANI): Days after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency in the Maldives, Joint Opposition spokesperson Ahmed Mahloof on Wednesday said that officials within the government are threatening the Member of Parliament (MPs) of the opposition party.

Mahloof said in a statement that "We are very worried that MPs are getting lots of threats, especially from officials within government. According to the constitution, we should be given security round the clock."

"But it's been more than a year Yameen stopped that. Some members of the gangs are also threatening MPs, so we are deeply concerned because there were sad incidents of MPs being stabbed to death and paralyzed too. Lot of MPs were attacked even recently," he added.

Maldivian journalist Junayd took to Twitter to inform about the threat calls to Mahloof.

"A coordinator [political post] at the tourism ministry has called MP @AhmedMahloof and threatened to kill him, Mahloof has said. #MaldivesInCrisis #MaldivesCrisis," he tweeted.

Earlier today, the opposition called for other countries to intervene in the crisis.

Ali Zahir, deputy leader of Adhaalath Party (AP), demanded an immediate intervention to resolve the turmoil as the situation continues to worsen after the arrest of top judges and politicians.

Zahir told ANI, "This is the time for other countries to help us. I wonder what the international community is waiting for to happen. Do they want to help us only after we become another Syria?"

Citing concerns, he added, "President Yameen first hijacked and dysfunctioned the parliament and now he has done the same with the judiciary."

There has been worldwide condemnation of the government's move, with the United States also expressed concern.

India on Tuesday said it was disturbed by the declaration of emergency in the country following the refusal of the Abdulla Yameen government to abide by the numinous court ruling ordering release of political prisoners. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI