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Maldives appeals to UN in row over judge Maldives appeals to UN in row over judge
(about 7 hours later)
The Maldives has asked the UN to help resolve what it calls a "judicial crisis", one week after the detention of a senior criminal court judge.The Maldives has asked the UN to help resolve what it calls a "judicial crisis", one week after the detention of a senior criminal court judge.
Last week the army arrested Judge Abdulla Mohamed for alleged corruption and political bias, a move which promoted street protests.Last week the army arrested Judge Abdulla Mohamed for alleged corruption and political bias, a move which promoted street protests.
The government says Judge Mohamed's judicial decisions were dictated by his political and personal affiliations.The government says Judge Mohamed's judicial decisions were dictated by his political and personal affiliations.
Opposition activists say the government is undermining democracy.Opposition activists say the government is undermining democracy.
Mr Mohamed appears to have made no public comment so far. The spokesman for ex-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who was voted out of office in 2008 after a 30-year tenure, accused it of "terrorising" the judiciary.
On Sunday the government confirmed it had asked the UN to send a team of senior foreign jurists to come and help resolve what it called a "systemic failure" in the Maldives judicial system. Judge Mohamed appears to have made no public comment so far.
The BBC's correspondent in the region, Charles Haviland, says that since the 2008 elections brought former human rights campaigner Mohammed Nasheed to the presidency, the Maldives has been gripped by constitutional gridlock - especially because parties opposed to Mr Nasheed now dominate parliament.
The political crisis has seen bitter rhetoric and street protests, or correspondent says.
The government has confirmed it has asked the UN to send a team of senior foreign jurists to come and help resolve what it called a "systemic failure" in the Maldives judicial system.
The government says the judicial system in the Maldives is in crisis because it is unable to regulate itself.The government says the judicial system in the Maldives is in crisis because it is unable to regulate itself.
It argues that a judicial commission, mandated by the constitution to investigate complaints and take disciplinary action against judges, has failed to probe complaints against Judge Mohamed.It argues that a judicial commission, mandated by the constitution to investigate complaints and take disciplinary action against judges, has failed to probe complaints against Judge Mohamed.
As a result, the government says, it was compelled to act and detained the judge last week.As a result, the government says, it was compelled to act and detained the judge last week.
"This system failure led directly to the president's decision as the ultimate guarantor of the constitution and of rule of law in the Maldives, to detain Justice Abdulla Mohamed," a government statement said.
It is now appealing to the UN and the Commonwealth for expertise to help resolve the political and judicial gridlock.
It says the dispute with the judge is not an isolated incident but indicative of a more deep-rooted problem with the Maldives judicial system and the checks and balances it has to ensure it stays independent.It says the dispute with the judge is not an isolated incident but indicative of a more deep-rooted problem with the Maldives judicial system and the checks and balances it has to ensure it stays independent.
Correspondents say it is unclear exactly how the UN could help in this situation. The UN has yet to make a comment.Correspondents say it is unclear exactly how the UN could help in this situation. The UN has yet to make a comment.
Controversial judge The supreme court and the prosecutor general's office have demanded the judge's release, calling his arrest illegal.
The government is under pressure after street protests led by the opposition erupted following the arrest of Judge Mohamed.
"We believe [Maldives President Mohamed] Nasheed is repeatedly violating the constitution in both letter and spirit," an opposition spokesman is quoted as telling the Reuters news agency.
The supreme court, the prosecutor general's office and judicial services commission have also demanded the judge' s release, and called his arrest illegal.
Mr Nasheed was a prominent human rights and democracy campaigner before he won the presidency in 2008, toppling the government of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who had been in power for 30 years.
At the time of his arrest a government source claimed that Judge Mohamed was deliberately obstructing cases that implicated members of opposition parties.
Judge Mohamed's conduct has previously been a source of controversy.
In 2005, the attorney general at the time, Hassan Saeed, expressed concerns to the president over reports alleging that the judge asked an underage victim of sexual abuse to reenact her attack during a court hearing. However the accusation was never proved.