(MENAFN- NewsIn.Asia) Male, Feb 6 (newsin.asia) - Former Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was arrested by a special Maldivian Police team in the early hours of Tuesday, hours after President Abdulla Yameen declared a 15 day emergency, local media reported.
Gayoom was arrested from his house, in the capital, along with his son in law who was also taken into custody. The two were arrested on charges of plotting to overthrow the government.
In a message on twitter, Gayoom said his arrest was unlawful and he assured the public he had not done anything to be arrested over.
President Yameen, on Monday night officially announced that the Maldives was under a state or emergency for the duration of 15 days. The announcement was read by the Legal Affairs Minister Azima Shakoor on state television, flanked by Attorney General Mohamed Anil.
Yameen said that during this period, though certain rights would be restricted, general movements, services and businesses would not be affected.
Maldives has been facing days of unrest after the Supreme Court issued a ruling last week to release top opposition political leaders including former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb.
The court said in a brief statement that the prisoners must be freed until fair trials could be conducted without undue influence.
Yameen had earlier Monday written three letters to the Supreme Court explaining the challenges being faced in implementing the court order.
Maldives Attorney General Mohamed Anil, on Sunday, advised all law enforcement agencies in the island not to comply with any order that is in conflict with the Maldives' Constitution following reports that the Supreme Court may order to impeach President Yameen.
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