Maldivian Opposition fear being framed for murder

MALDIVES: The party of former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed on Thursday accused authorities of trying to frame it over the assassination of a lawmaker, amid continued political unrest in the island nation.

Two activists from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have been arrested over the fatal stabbing on Tuesday of Afrasheem Ali, 46, a member of parliament from the governing coalition.

Nasheed resigned as president in February after what he described as a coup, and the Indian Ocean archipelago -- better known as a luxury tourism destination -- has since been rocked by demonstrations and occasional violence.

The MDP said in a statement it was “fearful of possible framing and being unfairly accused of (the) brutal murder”.

Police spokesman Hassan Haneef told AFP that investigators were yet to establish a motive for the murder of Ali, a well-regarded moderate Islamic scholar.

AFP