|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 21 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
World | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
C'wealth concerned about Maldives clampdown LONDON, Friday (Reuters) The Commonwealth has told the president of the Maldives it is concerned about his declaration of a state of emergency and urged him to implement liberalising reforms he presented in June, a spokesman said. "Our secretary-general, Don McKinnon, spoke this week to the president of the Maldives and expressed concern about the recent events that have resulted in a state of emergency," said Joel Kibazo, spokesman for the Secretariat of the group of mostly former British colonies. Last week, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Asia's longest-serving ruler, imposed a state of emergency on the Indian Ocean island nation after police used tear gas and truncheons to break up protests demanding the release of political prisoners. Kibazo said Gayoom had signalled an intention to pursue his programme of democratic reforms, including limiting the term of the presidency, allowing rival political parties to operate and strengthening the judiciary. "The secretary-general encouraged the president to pursue those proposals and offered assistance from the Commonwealth," Kibazo said. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
