Maldives impeaches VP over plot to kill President Abdulla Yameen

Maldivian Vice President Ahmed Adeeb was on Thursday impeached by the Parliament overwhelmingly over an alleged attempt to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen and faces terrorism charges as lawmakers approved state of emergency in the island that has sparked concerns globally.

61 lawmakers out of the 85 present during the session voted in favour, more than the 57 required for the impeachment while the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) lawmakers abstained from voting.

Thursday's extraordinary session also saw the lawmakers approving the controversial 30-day state of emergency that Yameen declared on Wednesday, giving sweeping powers to security forces while suspending right to freedom of movement and assembly after arms and explosives were found near his palace. Yameen had declared the state of emergency, saying the explosion and subsequent discovery of arms posed a threat to national security.

The parliamentarians debated on the no-confidence motion filed against Adeeb, 33, for two hours before it was put up for vote, Haveeru newspaper reported. Adeeb, under arrest over an alleged attempt to assassinate Yameen in a speedboat blast, is the second vice president to be impeached in less than six months. He became Vice President in July after the impeachment of his predecessor Mohamed Jameel, who had fallen out of the president's favour. Adeeb will be charged under the recently passed tough anti-terrorism law against Maldivians sympathising with the IS group, Home Minister Umar Naseer was quoted as saying.

If found guilty Adeeb could face up to 25 years in jail. "Now the vice president is out of office and we will charge him under the recent terrorism law," Naseer said.

The declaration of emergency came ahead of a planned protest by the MDP aimed at pressurising Yameen to release its leader and former President Mohamed Nasheed from jail after a widely criticised conviction under anti-terror laws. Yameen after declaring emergency immediately fast-tracked his deputy's impeachment by slashing to just seven the constitutionally-mandated 14 days' notice period to respond to the no-confidence motion filed against the vice president.

Adeeb was arrested on October 25 after his return from an official visit to China and taken to the police detention centre in the island of Dhoonidhoo for allegedly orchestrating the September 28 blast when President Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim were returning home after performing Hajj.

The president escaped unhurt, but the first lady suffered a spinal fracture and is still in hospital. However, the FBI that investigated the blast said it found no evidence that it was caused by a bomb.