Maldives President Abdulla Yameen has turned down UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' offer to mediate between him and the opposition in the ongoing political crisis, Guterres's Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said
This picture taken on February 21, 2018 shows Maldivian opposition supporters scuffling with security forces officers during a protest demanding the release of political prisoners in Male. Maldives President Abdulla Yameen extended a draconian state of emergency by another month on February 20, ignoring a growing chorus of international concern and calls for democracy to be restored in the honeymoon islands. Pic/AFP
Maldives President Abdulla Yameen has turned down UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' offer to mediate between him and the opposition in the ongoing political crisis, Guterres's Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said. "He offered to the President (Yameen) UN mediation but he conveyed that mediation was not wanted at this stage," Haq said.
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Asked about Maldives extending the state of emergency that was set to expire on Wednesday for another 30 days, he said, "The secretary-general is following the situation in the Maldives closely and with concern."
The crisis in the island nation began on February 1 when the Supreme Court unanimously overturned the terrorism conviction of former president Mohamed Nasheed as well as that of eight other politicians on several charges. In response, Yameen clamped down the state of emergency and arrested Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge along with several politicians on February 6. The three judges remaining on the Supreme Court overturned the court's unanimous ruling ordering the release of the nine politicians.
On Wednesday, Yameen reiterated his offer to hold negotiations with the opposition. Responding to an earlier offer of talks by the President, the Joint Opposition led by Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party wrote to Guterres asking him to mediate and to oversee the talks.
30 No. of days for which Maldives state of emergency has been extended
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