Army downgrades protection for Gayoom
The army removed an emergency response car from the former president’s motorcade, effective Thursday.
04 Nov 2016, 9:00 AM
The Maldives National Defence Forces has downgraded protection for former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, his personal assistant has said.
Ahmed Sofwan said the Special Protection Group, the elite unit of military bodyguards, informed him Wednesday that the army will remove the emergency response car in Gayoom’s motorcade, effective Thursday.
The sudden change follows Gayoom’s withdrawal of support for his half-brother and incumbent president, Abdulla Yameen.
Expressing concern, Sofwan said: “When I asked for a reason, they said they do not know and that these were orders from their superiors.”
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