Former President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, seeks refuge in Indian Embassy to avoid arrest

The former President of the Maldives has taken refuge at the Indian Embassy in Male after a court ordered his arrest.

Mohamed Nasheed tweeted that he took the step “mindful of his own security and the stability of the Indian Ocean”.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said India has not decided whether to grant him refuge.

Police were ordered to arrest Mr Nasheed after he failed to appear in court on Sunday on charges that he illegally ordered the detention of a senior judge, a move that led to his overthrow last year.