Maldivian opposition condemns govt. move to postpone polls due to outbreak of H1N1

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has strongly condemned the decision by the country’s rulers to postpone local government elections citing the recent outbreak of the H1N1 flu as the reason.

The Saudi Arabian King’s visit to the Maldives was cancelled two weeks ago and the government said this was due to the H1N1 flu outbreak. The MDP alleges that the outbreak of flu is being used as a ruse by the Government to avoid elections and cover up accusations of incompetence.

In a statement issued yesterday, the MDP called upon its international partners to urgently take punitive action against President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, his officials and others in the regime in order “to help reverse the Maldives’ continued slide towards authoritarianism and one-man rule.”