Maldives parliament backs declaration of Emergency

Maldives parliament backs declaration of Emergency

Male: The Maldivian parliament on Thursday voted to endorse the declaration of month-long state of Emergency in the archipelago nation.

The members debated on the declaration for two hours before voting to endorse it, Haveeru online reported.

"Anyone who criticises this step is a traitor to the nation. I call upon the members to work towards ensuring the safety and security of the general public," Fonadhoo member Abdu Raheem Abdulla, who also serves as the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) deputy leader, said.

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs, however, said the declaration was evidence of the president's incompetence. They said the declaration contained unconstitutional points such as the slashing to just seven days the 14-day notice given to the vice president before his impeachment.

Fifty-eight members of the ruling bloc voted in favour of the declaration while 14 voted against it. Three parliamentarians abstained.

Thed Maldives declared a month-long state of Emergency Wednesday in what has been extraordinary security measures following an explosion on a speedboat carrying President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and subsequent discovery of an arms haul.

In the declaration of Emergency, President Yameen said he had reached the decision after consultations with his national security council.

Several explosive devices have been discovered in two separate operations carried out by the army and there is credible intelligence of an imminent attack using explosives and weapons, he added.

The declaration of Emergency comes a day after security forces discovered an explosive device near the presidential palace.

(IANS)

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