Maldivian authorities have charged former strongman Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and several senior judges with “terrorism” for attempting to topple President Abdulla Yameen, the government said Wednesday. Eighty-year-old Gayoom and ten others, including the sacked chief justice Abdulla Saeed, were charged under state of emergency laws imposed in the paradise tourist island last month. The 11 are accused of trying to topple Yameen who came to power following a controversial election run-off in November 2013 when he narrowly defeated former president Mohamed Nasheed. Yameen refused to carry out the court order and instead arrested the chief justice and another Supreme Court judge. He has resisted international calls to end the state of emergency, release all political prisoners and restore the rule of law.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 21, 2018 07:18 UTC