Afrasheem Ali, 46, a lawmaker from the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), was attacked on the steps of his apartment in the capital island Male early Tuesday, police spokesman Hassan Haneef told AFP.

"This is the first killing of an MP in the Maldives and we are yet to establish a motive," Haneef said, adding that investigations were underway to track down the killer.

Nasheed's opposition Maldivian Democratic Party condemned Ali's killing while government officials said Ali would receive a state funeral on Tuesday.