Maldives Crisis LIVE: Supreme Court reverses order to release former President Mohamed Nasheed, 8 others
Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Monday declared a state of emergency for 15 days
Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Monday declared a state of emergency for 15 days and cracked down on opposition leaders and Supreme Court judges. Security forces broke into the Supreme Court to arrest two Supreme Court judges, including the Chief Justice, early on Tuesday.
Under the terms of emergency, judges are no longer granted special privileges if they are facing arrest. The emergency decree gives the government sweeping powers to make arrests, search and seize property and restricts freedom of assembly, right to strike and right to privacy.
"Certain rights will be restricted (but) general movements, services and businesses will not be affected," the president's office said in a statement about the emergency.
Soon after the declaration, security forces stormed into the Supreme Court building to arrest Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and judge Ali Hamid. Former Maldives president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has also been arrested.
Yameen had earlier defied a Supreme Court ruling that nine jailed opposition leaders must be released.
Here are the LIVE updates:
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Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Monday declared a state of emergency for 15 days
The Maldives Supreme Court has revoked its ruling ordering the release of as many as nine political dissidents including self exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed: Maldives media
India on Tuesday said it was "disturbed" by the declaration of a state of emergency in the Indian Ocean archipelago and "continues to carefully monitor" the situation.
"We are disturbed by the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Maldives following the refusal of the Government to abide by the unanimous ruling of the full bench of the Supreme Court on 1 February, and also by the suspension of Constitutional rights of the people of Maldives. The arrest of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and political figures are also reasons for concern. Government continues to carefully monitor the situation," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Maldives' President Abdulla Yameen has called the Supreme Court's order unconstitutional. In an official statement, Yameen also noted that the justices cannot be held accountable.
He shared that although the law is of the paramount significance, no one should be beyond the reach of having themselves subject to investigation.
The US calls on President Yameen, the army, and police to comply with the rule of law, implement the Supreme Court ruling and the rulings of the criminal court, ensure the full and proper functioning of the Parliament, and restore constitutionally guaranteed rights of the people and institutions of the Maldives: US State Department
US says it is "troubled" and "disappointed" by the declaration of a state of emergency in Maldives
State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said: The US is troubled and disappointed by reports that Maldivian President Yameen has declared a state of emergency
Former President Mohamed Nasheed requests India to send envoy to resolve crisis