Govt says emergency declared because of coup attempt

Government spokesman Ahmed Shaheed said a mob tried last Friday to oust President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has ruled Asia's most expensive tourist destination since 1978, and is the region's longest serving leader.

"The chief government spokesman, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, said the mob had attempted to overthrow the democratically elected government in the Maldives." Gayoom's official website said.

The government declared the state of emergency Friday after demonstrators took to the streets to demand the release of political prisoners and greater democracy.

The website said seven members of parliament, who were to meet Monday to discuss a new constitution for the nation of some 330,000 Sunni Muslims, were detained after Friday's pro-democracy rallies.

Gayoom's office said he sent two ministers to the Dhoonidhoo detention centre to "inquire into the well-being of the seven special Majlis members."

"The two ministers reportel back to the President the seven members were being treated well and had access to adequate facilities," his statement said. "They also noted that none of the seven members had suffered any injuries."

But witnesses said security personnel severely beat the detainees after rounding them up at their homes and taking them to the National Security Service headquarters.

Among the MPs arrested were former national development minister Ibrahim Zaki and former attorney general Mohamed Munavvar whom Gayoom sacked in November for supporting reforms.

Maldives Human Rights Commission member Husnu Sood, who is a prominent lawyer, was also held.

Pro-democracy activists have called on foreigners to boycott the tourism-dependent nation whose capital is still under a night curfew.