Maldives President declares state of emergency

Male: Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Monday declared a 15-day state of emergency amid political crisis in the country, media reports said.

The state of emergency gives security officials extra powers to arrest suspects, the BBC reported.

The government has already suspended Parliament and ordered the army to resist any moves by the Supreme Court to impeach the President.

The court in a landmark decision ruled the trial of ex-President Mohamed Nasheed unconstitutional and ordered the release of nine MPs, which would see the opposition majority restored.