Maldives SC didn't seek India's assistance: DJA

A report in Maldives’ SunOnline on Monday said that some Indian newspapers carried reports stating that the Indian Ocean tion’s Supreme Court asked for New Delhi’s assistance to enforce its February 1 order.

However, the DJA denied the reports, saying “neither the Department nor the top court made any such request”.

The crisis, which has included repeated rounds of clashes between police and opposition protesters, began when the Supreme Court ruled last Thursday that all politicians opposed to President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, including sheed, be released immediately. It said 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”.

The government said that the Prosecutor General had informed the top court about the “legal challenges” in the implementation of the ruling. In response, the court issued a second order on Sunday stating “there was no legal barrier to implementing its decision” and that “the order must be implemented”.

Embattled President Gayoom on Monday asked the Supreme Court to revoke its decision.

Attorney General Mohamed Anil said that the move to unseat the President would be “unconstitutiol”. He said that the President can be ousted only through a vote in Parliament and that police and security forces would not obey an impeachment order from an “illegitimate set of people”. (IANS)