MALE, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Former Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed was arrested by the Maldivian police on Tuesday, causing fresh uproar and protests in the capital Male, officials said.
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) spokesperson Hameed Abdul Gafoor told Xinhua that Nasheed was arrested just outside his house by around 20 police personnel, who took him away without an explanation.
"They just took him. We do not know why and we do not know where he has been taken," Gafoor said.
MDP Party member Shauna Aminath told Xinhua that the party believed Nasheed was arrested over fresh summons issued by a court but added that Nasheed's lawyers had rushed to the scene for an explanation.
"The party is shocked as we do not know the real reason behind his arrest. We do not even know where he is taken. The government has properly planned this just before the elections," Aminath said.
Maldivian government officials said that Nasheed was arrested after a court issued a third arrest warrant against him on Tuesday.
He is charged with ordering the military to unconstitutionally detain the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed, while he was head of state.
Nasheed's party however said this is a politically motivated case designed to ensure he can't contest the September 7 presidential polls.
Nasheed had evaded previous two arrest warrants by seeking diplomatic shelter in the Indian High Commission in Male. He had taken shelter in the Indian Mission for 11 days last month to evade arrest after he failed to appear in court.
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