An exiled former president of the Maldives has urged India to send an envoy backed by military to release political detainees after the Indian Ocean nation's government imposed a state of emergency.
Best known as an "A-list" holiday destination, the Maldives plunged into crisis last week after the Supreme Court delivered a shock ruling, quashing terrorism convictions against nine leading opposition figures including the country's exiled, first democratically elected president, Mohamed Nasheed.
Having defied the court ruling, President Abdulla Yameen ordered security forces to seize control of the court and arrest the chief justice and another judge.
Nasheed, who was granted asylum by Britain after the government allowed him to leave jail for medical treatment abroad in 2016, sought Indian intervention to resolve the island's most serious political crisis in years.
"On behalf of Maldivian people we humbly request: India to send envoy, backed by its military, to release judges & pol. detainees... We request a physical presence," Nasheed, who is currently in Colombo, said in a Twitter post.
He also urged the United States to block financial transactions of Yameen's government.
Since Yameen took power in 2013, his government has faced repeated questions over freedom of speech, the detention of opponents and the independence of the judiciary.
His office said he was acting in the interest of public safety in imposing emergency for 15 days.
"The president has been compelled to declare a state of emergency due to the risk currently posed to national security," the statement issued on Monday said.
Located near key shipping lanes, the Maldives have assumed greater importance after China began building political and economic ties as part of its so-called 'String Of Pearls' strategy to build a network of ports in the Indian Ocean region.
Having historically held more clout in the islands, India has sought to push back against China's growing influence there.
India, the United States and Britain have urged Yameen to honour the rule of law and free the detainees.
Indian intervention in the Maldives would not be unprecedented, as New Delhi sent troops in 1988 to foil a coup, purportedly involving foreign mercenaries.
