As domestic and international pressure mounts, the Maldives has delayed complying with a Supreme Court order for the immediate release and new trials of nine opposition leaders, freeing them to contest presidential elections this year. The Supreme Court on Thursday said the trials of Nasheed and eight others, many of whom had challenged President Abdulla Yameen, had violated the constitution and international law. The unexpected ruling frees opposition leaders to run against Yameen in the presidential poll expected to be completed by October. "We are deeply fearful that the government's refusal to implement the Supreme Court order could escalate to unrest and incite violence across the country," it said in a statement. Hundreds of opposition supporters chanted slogans such as "Enforce the Supreme Court ruling," and "Defend the constitution," in a Friday night rally outside the opposition MDP campaign center in Male, the capital.

Source: dna February 03, 2018 10:07 UTC