Main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Wednesday condemned the new terrorism charges filed against its leader Mohamed Nasheed insisting that it would lead to Maldives losing respect in the international community.
Self-exiled former president Nasheed faces new terrorism charges after prosecutors on Tuesday charged him over the arbitrary arrest and subsequent detention of incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom by the military during Nasheed's government in 2010.
President Yameen, who was a parliament member at the time, was arrested on June 14, 2010 after allegations were made that he was bribing other lawmakers in an attempt to overthrow Nasheed's government.
MDP in a statement alleged that the repeated terrorism charges against Nasheed who is already serving 13 years in prison over a judge's arrest before he was allowed to leave to Britain on medical leave in an internationally brokered deal continues to be politically motivated.
The party urged incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to revert back to rule of law.
Criminal Court has scheduled the first hearing of the trial at 1.30pm Wednesday.
Nasheed's defence minister Ameen Faisal is already on trial over the same offence.
