Court orders travel ban for former Maldives president

COLOMBO // A court in the Maldives has banned former President Mohamed Nasheed from leaving the capital without official permission.

Mr Nasheed resigned from office in February, setting off a power struggle in which he said he was actually forced out in a coup.

A domestic inquiry commission later concluded his resignation was legal.

Mr Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party says the Hulhumale Magistrate court issued the travel restrictions yesterday.

The party criticised the order. It said that the "detention is politically motivated, aimed solely at preventing Nasheed from campaigning ahead of next year's elections."

He has been charged with illegally ordering the arrest of a senior judge while president.