Won't take any action that fuels instability, Maldives govt assures India

New Delhi: It has been more than two days that former Maldives president Mohammed Nasheed has been holed up inside the Indian High Commission in Male. The Maldivian government has reassured India saying it won't take any harsh decision on former president Nasheed to fuel instability.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said he had a 40-minute conversation with his Maldivian counterpart and hoped to resolve the crisis. The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, "The Maldives Foreign Minister has assured the External Affairs Minister that the Maldivian Government would do its utmost to prevent any precipitate act that adversely affects the atmosphere for a free and fair democratic process and rule of law."

The Indian High Commissioner in Maldives met senior officials in the Maldivian government and made New Delhi's stand clear. Maldives has also criticised India for making public statements on their internal affairs.

It has been more than two days that former Maldives president Mohammed Nasheed has been holed up inside the Indian High Commission in Male.

Now the United States, too, has expressed concern. Stepping into the crisis, US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, "We urge all sides to remain calm, reject the use of violence, and avoid rhetoric that could increase tensions. Former President Nasheed must be accorded due process under the law."

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