Mohamed Nasheed said Saudi Arabia supported violent extremism in the Maldives.
Young men on motorbikes confronted and tried to attack the opposition's presidential candidate.
The capital lacks a natural beach and its residents flock to suburb islands at weekends.
TV stations could lose their licence if they break the rules.
The population projection means there will be twice as many people living in the Maldives.
Nasheed's decision not to run for president shocked, and even divided, the party he leads.
The candidate was unharmed and led away from the scene by private security.
Hamzath Ahmed Fathuhy died after suffering a stroke last week.
The oil tanker was suspected of illegally supplying North Korea.
The imam has been suspended without pay for 30 days.
The European Union has previously spoken of 'targeted measures' against the Maldives.
The ruling party's VP pick has raised eyebrows in some quarters.
India has urged the Maldives to return to the path of democracy.
Giving prisoners basic rights should not be seen as giving them luxuries, said a local NGO.
Fathmath Niusha had been standing in for the secretary general since he resigned in February.
Two defendants are not in custody, despite facing terror charges.
Clerics said it was a 'golden opportunity' for advancing Islamic traditions.
