India confirms that Nasheed has requested for assistance

The Ministry of External Affairs of India has said that it is informed that former President Mohamed Nasheed is presently in the Indian High Commission, and that he has sought India’s assistance.

A statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that it was in touch with the relevant Maldivian authorities to resolve the situation.

“Following the arrest warrant issued against him by the Hulhumale Magistrate Court, the former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, who is a candidate for the Presidential elections in Maldives scheduled for September 2013, is in the Indian High Commission and has sought India’s assistance. We are in touch with the relevant Maldivian authorities to resolve the situation,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in the statement.

The statement did not indicate whether India had decided to provide assistance to Nasheed.

In an interview to The Times of India, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that Nasheed went to the High Commission to speak with the High Commissioner, and that he was not informed if Nasheed had requested for protection.