Maldives declares state of emergency as Yameen tightens grip on power

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Monday declared a state of emergency for 15 days and security forces stormed the Supreme Court in an escalation of a power struggle with the archipelago's top court. Police also arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom at his residence along with his son-in-law. Gayoom is Yameen's half-brother and ruled the country in the Indian Ocean for 30 years until 2008 but is now in the opposition.
His detention is further evidence of a bid by Yameen to strengthen his grip on power. The president has defied a Supreme Court ruling ordering jailed opposition leaders to be freed, including Gayoom's son Farish, an opposition lawmaker.