Former President Gayoom asks for clarification over 'threats' against him

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has asked authorities to clarify what the threat to him is, over which military officers have been standing guard at his home.

Officers of the Maldives National Defence Force are standing guard at the entrance of Maumoon’s home in capital city Malé.

A source close to Maumoon said on Tuesday that he has been given additional security at his home, Endheri Maage, in light of an intelligence report compiled by authorities.

The source further said that it is surreptitious that authorities have taken up control of security there, and alleged that this may be a government ploy to ‘monitor’ those that the opposition leader meets.

The opposition has described this as an attempt to restrict the former president and thwart its efforts to prepare for the upcoming presidential elections.