Maldives capital braces for unrest on ‘coup day’

The Maldives capital is bracing itself for unrest, as a key political anniversary coincides with a state of emergency.

Mohamed Nasheed resigned as president on February 7, 2012. The Maldivian Democratic Party alleged it was a coup and he said he stepped down under duress, but a Commonwealth-backed panel later concluded the transfer of power to his deputy was constitutional.

Six years later the Maldives, in particular the capital, is in turmoil again after a state of emergency was declared on Monday night.

A shock Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of nine prisoners, including Nasheed who was jailed on controversial terror charges, was followed by a series of brutal moves to crush dissent and further decimate the opposition.