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State of emergency lifted in Maldives after situation normalized

Xinhua, November 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Maldives on Tuesday announced lifting the state of emergency, which was supposed to last 30 days but ended within one week.

During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, attorney general Mohamed Anil, reading out a statement from the president, said the nationwide emergency has been lifted with effect from 5p.m. on Tuesday.

The president, in the statement, said security forces had assured him that the situation in the Maldives is no longer deemed as a threat to the people as they have made significant strides in the blast investigation.

He also noted the requests made by Maldives' international partners to lift the state of emergency and restore the rights and freedoms enshrined in the constitution.

"In light of the possible adverse impact on the Maldives' tourism and economy, President Yameen has decided to lift the state of emergency," AG Anil told a press conference at the President's Office.

The decision came after several countries, including partners such as neighbouring Sri Lanka, world powers like the U.S. and Britain and international organizations like the Commonwealth and the EU, had condemned the state of emergency and urged the Maldives to restore constitutional rights in the archipelago.

Britain, one of the most important source markets for the Maldives tourism industry, had updated its travel advisory on the Maldives, urging visitors to be extra careful. The country, however, highlighted the Maldivian government's stand that there will be no restrictions on tourist movements and that tourist resorts are unlikely to be significantly affected.

The tourism industry in the Maldives had reported an alarming drop in occupancy as tourists cancelled bookings over security fears.

The state of emergency was declared last Wednesday, a day after security forces discovered an explosive device near the presidential palace.

The discovery came just over a month after an explosion aboard the presidential speedboat carrying President Yameen later confirmed as an attempt to kill the president. President Yameen was unhurt but his spouse and two others were hurt in the explosion.

The primary suspect in the blast appears to be the now impeached Vice President Ahmed Adheeb who was arrested on Oct.24 as soon as he returned from an international official trip. Endit