The Maldives crisis: The Indian Ocean archipelago's troubled political history

Maldivian president Yameen Abdul Gayoom (centre), surrounded by his bodyguards, arrives to address his supporters in the capital Male on February 3, 2018. Mr. Yameen said on Saturday that he was willing to hold an early presidential election to allow voters to decide who they want to lead the Indian Ocean archipelago, as political unrest continued to grow after a court ordered the release and retrial of political prisoners.

The impasse in Maldives following Supreme Court's order to free opposition leaders including former President Mohammed Nasheed, is the latest in the turbulent history of the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Mohammed Nasheed, Maldives first democratically-elected President, resigned in 2012 following weeks of public protests against his order to arrest the top Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed. What followed in the country is a series of political turmoil, high-profile arrests, an assasination attempt, and corruption charges.

Here is a timeline of events since 2012.