This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17636199

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Maldives elections will not be in 'foreseeable future' Maldives elections will not be in 'foreseeable future'
(40 minutes later)
By Alastair Lawson BBC NewsBy Alastair Lawson BBC News
Maldives Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon has told the BBC that elections cannot be held in the country "in the foreseeable future".Maldives Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon has told the BBC that elections cannot be held in the country "in the foreseeable future".
Dunya Maumoon said that the country's institutions of state were not strong enough for elections to be held.Dunya Maumoon said that the country's institutions of state were not strong enough for elections to be held.
President Waheed Hassan - Ms Maumoon's father - took office in February. He denies that he staged a mutiny. President Waheed Hassan took office in February. He denies that he staged a mutiny.
The opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) says that the country is now being run by a dictatorship.The opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) says that the country is now being run by a dictatorship.
But Ms Maumoon said that until the country's state institutions - the judiciary, the election commission and the human rights commission - are strengthened, it would be impossible for a vote to be held.But Ms Maumoon said that until the country's state institutions - the judiciary, the election commission and the human rights commission - are strengthened, it would be impossible for a vote to be held.
She said that her father - as vice president - came to power constitutionally following the voluntary resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed in February. She said that President Hassan - as vice president - came to power constitutionally following the voluntary resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed in February.
Mr Nasheed said at the time that he was stepping down to prevent "bloodshed", but later insisted that he was forced to do so under duress.Mr Nasheed said at the time that he was stepping down to prevent "bloodshed", but later insisted that he was forced to do so under duress.
Speaking to the BBC in London, Ms Maumoon said that a vote was impossible until a commission of inquiry set up to determine the circumstances of President Hassan's rise to power had submitted its report.Speaking to the BBC in London, Ms Maumoon said that a vote was impossible until a commission of inquiry set up to determine the circumstances of President Hassan's rise to power had submitted its report.
"We are open to discussions about when elections should take place," she said, "but the opposition is not interested in talking to us about the future of the country.""We are open to discussions about when elections should take place," she said, "but the opposition is not interested in talking to us about the future of the country."
Ms Maumoon said that a constitutional amendment was also necessary before any election could be held.Ms Maumoon said that a constitutional amendment was also necessary before any election could be held.
"The amendment requires the support of all Maldivian political parties - but so far the MDP had refused to agree to it.""The amendment requires the support of all Maldivian political parties - but so far the MDP had refused to agree to it."
But MDP supporter and former Maldives High Commissioner to London Farah Faizal told the BBC that the current Maldives government was illegal.But MDP supporter and former Maldives High Commissioner to London Farah Faizal told the BBC that the current Maldives government was illegal.
"If they wanted to get rid of the government they should have used constitutional and lawful means to do so rather than use the army and police to stage a coup," she said."If they wanted to get rid of the government they should have used constitutional and lawful means to do so rather than use the army and police to stage a coup," she said.
She said that the commission of inquiry set up by the government was a "red herring" because it is not impartial and is led by a former minister who for 19 years served under the government of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom - which she said had imprisoned Mr Nasheed 12 times. She said that the commission of inquiry set up by the government was a "red herring" because it is not impartial and is led by a former minister who for 19 years served under the government of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom - Ms Maumoon's father - which she said had imprisoned Mr Nasheed 12 times.
Ms Faizal also said that the government's argument that it needed to strengthen the country's institutions of state was "disingenuous" because presidential and parliamentary elections were held without any problems in 2008 and 2009.Ms Faizal also said that the government's argument that it needed to strengthen the country's institutions of state was "disingenuous" because presidential and parliamentary elections were held without any problems in 2008 and 2009.