03:33 NZDT Thu Mar 7 2013
Police have arrested 81 government activists in the Maldives, while former president Mohamed Nasheed has been freed on bail.
copy http://news.msn.co.nz/
03:33 Thu Mar 7 2013
AAP
Former Maldivian
President Mohamed Nasheed has been freed after his overnight detention
sparked anti-government protests that led to the arrest of more than 80
opposition activists, police say.
The release of Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, came after he was taken before a magistrate on charges of abusing his authority when he was in power between 2008 and 2012.
"We produced him (before a judge) in court today as instructed by the magistrate and after today's hearing he was free to go," police spokesman Hassan Haneef said.
Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said the case had been put off for another four weeks.
But there was no ruling on Nasheed's demand to postpone the case until after the September 7 presidential election in which he is a candidate, the MDP said.
The 45-year-old Nasheed says the charges are politically motivated and aimed at disqualifying him from contesting the September presidential elections.
Police detained Nasheed on Tuesday, defying pressure from regional power India which had called for him to be free to campaign for the elections.
During Wednesday's one-hour hearing, two women were arrested for causing "disturbances", police spokesman Haneef said, adding that a total of 81 people had been detained since protests erupted on Tuesday.
India had appealed for calm following Nasheed's arrest that breached an informal understanding he would be free to campaign.
Male has been racked by violence and political infighting since February 2012 when Nasheed was ousted following a mutiny by security forces and street protests.
The release of Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, came after he was taken before a magistrate on charges of abusing his authority when he was in power between 2008 and 2012.
"We produced him (before a judge) in court today as instructed by the magistrate and after today's hearing he was free to go," police spokesman Hassan Haneef said.
Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said the case had been put off for another four weeks.
But there was no ruling on Nasheed's demand to postpone the case until after the September 7 presidential election in which he is a candidate, the MDP said.
The 45-year-old Nasheed says the charges are politically motivated and aimed at disqualifying him from contesting the September presidential elections.
Police detained Nasheed on Tuesday, defying pressure from regional power India which had called for him to be free to campaign for the elections.
During Wednesday's one-hour hearing, two women were arrested for causing "disturbances", police spokesman Haneef said, adding that a total of 81 people had been detained since protests erupted on Tuesday.
India had appealed for calm following Nasheed's arrest that breached an informal understanding he would be free to campaign.
Male has been racked by violence and political infighting since February 2012 when Nasheed was ousted following a mutiny by security forces and street protests.
copy http://news.msn.co.nz/
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário