Authorities trying to frame us, Maldivian opposition charges
The party of former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed on Thursday accused authorities of trying to frame it over the assassination of a lawmaker, amid continued political unrest in the island nation.
Two activists from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have been arrested over the fatal stabbing on Tuesday of Afrasheem Ali, 46, a member of parliament from the governing coalition.
Nasheed resigned as president in February after what he described as a coup, and the Indian Ocean archipelago - better known as a luxury tourism destination - has since been rocked by demonstrations and occasional violence.
The MDP said in a statement it was "fearful of possible framing and being unfairly accused of (the) brutal murder".
Police spokesman Hassan Haneef told AFP that investigators were yet to establish a motive for the murder of Ali, a well-regarded moderate Islamic scholar.
Haneef denied that the MDP activists were being framed, and confirmed that a total of four people had been arrested.AFP
