State of emergency declared in Maldives

Political unrest in the Republic of Maldives prompted the nation’s president to declare a state of emergency for 15 days starting Monday. This move gives the president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom power to arrest and detain people. The state of emergency reflects the struggle between the nation’s supreme court and its government. The court recently ordered the release of political prisoners and reinstatement of elected parliament member which would give the opposition majority power.