COLOMBO, Oct. 14 (Xinhua)-- Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has sacked his Defence Minister Moosa Ali Jaleel in the biggest move following an explosion on the presidential yacht late last month, local media reported on Wednesday.
Government spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz Ali made the announcement on Twitter in the early hours of Wednesday morning but refused to divulge further details.
Jaleel was handed the defence ministry portfolio in January after his predecessor Mohamed Nazim was sacked.
Jaleel also sat on the special inquiry commission constituted by President Yameen to probe the boat blast which injured the First Lady and two others last month.
Yameen had landed at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in Hulhule from Saudi Arabia after completing the Hajj pilgrimage on Sept. 28 and was on his way to capital Male when the explosion occurred.
Eye witnesses said as the boat approached the Izzuddin Jetty, there was a loud noise followed by smoke and then a blast.
Yameen escaped unhurt from the explosion but his wife and two security officials received serious injuries.
The First lady fell unconscious when the blast ripped through part of the yacht, and was rushed to hospital along with the two other injured. She suffered injuries to her back and continues to be hospitalized.
International investigators probing the explosion have found that the blast may have been an attempt to assassinate Yameen.
