A delegation of the joint opposition is to head to New York and Washington on Monday to continue discussions with the United Nations (UN).

The joint opposition said this in an open letter to President Abdulla Yameen concerning the opposition’s negotiations with the government.

In the letter, the joint opposition said that it wishes to make their views and demands known to the international community and the Maldivian citizens, after the government re-opened the ‘all-party talks’.

The joint opposition demanded that the state of emergency be lifted and those arrested under the decree be freed. It also said that the opposition parties are willing to join the talks with the involvement of the UN, after the government implements the Supreme Court order on February 1 to release nine political prisoners and reinstate 12 opposition MPs.

It also expressed concern that the government has on several occasions changed its stance on UN mediation, and requested President Yameen to clear up the government’s stance.

The joint opposition consists of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Jumhoree Party (JP), Adhaalath party (AP), and a faction of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) that supports former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.