Jailed former president Mohamed Nasheed secured another
victory as government announced Friday that the opposition leader would
get an extension for his medical leave in the United Kingdom.
Nasheed arrived in
London last week after being granted 30 days of leave from the Maldives
for spinal cord surgery in a deal brokered by Sri Lanka, India and
former colonial power Britain.
Nasheed became the first democratically-elected president of the Maldives in 2008 and served for three years before he was ousted in what he called a coup backed by the military and police.
Last year, he was sentenced to 13 years in jail on terrorism charges.
At a press conference on Monday in London, Nasheed said he had not yet decided whether to return to the Maldives.
Flanked by his high profile international legal team including London-based human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, Nasheed said he would need to consult on his next move, quoting British punk band The Clash to explain his position.
"I know the question you all want to ask is will I go back. This has been more eloquently answered by The Clash in 1982 when I was doing my A-Levels -- 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go?'" Nasheed, who was educated in Britain, told reporters.
But he added: "Let me be clear. I will go to the Maldives. I will definitely go to the Maldives, there is no doubt about that. But only the question is how and when."
The minister for legal affairs in the President's Office Aishath Azima Shakoor told reporters in Colombo that her government was sure that Nasheed would return to the Maldives after his treatment.
“He is a man of great stature. I don't think there is a question of him not returning,” she said.
"If he requests an extension of medical leave, he will certainly get it."
In UK, Nasheed had already secured several victories.
He and his lawyers visited 10 Downing Street on Saturday, where Prime Minister David Cameron pledged support.
Nasheed became the first democratically-elected president of the Maldives in 2008 and served for three years before he was ousted in what he called a coup backed by the military and police.
Last year, he was sentenced to 13 years in jail on terrorism charges.
At a press conference on Monday in London, Nasheed said he had not yet decided whether to return to the Maldives.
Flanked by his high profile international legal team including London-based human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, Nasheed said he would need to consult on his next move, quoting British punk band The Clash to explain his position.
"I know the question you all want to ask is will I go back. This has been more eloquently answered by The Clash in 1982 when I was doing my A-Levels -- 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go?'" Nasheed, who was educated in Britain, told reporters.
But he added: "Let me be clear. I will go to the Maldives. I will definitely go to the Maldives, there is no doubt about that. But only the question is how and when."
The minister for legal affairs in the President's Office Aishath Azima Shakoor told reporters in Colombo that her government was sure that Nasheed would return to the Maldives after his treatment.
“He is a man of great stature. I don't think there is a question of him not returning,” she said.
"If he requests an extension of medical leave, he will certainly get it."
In UK, Nasheed had already secured several victories.
He and his lawyers visited 10 Downing Street on Saturday, where Prime Minister David Cameron pledged support.
sourec- http://www.haveeru.com.mv/news/65973
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