Maldives leader's nephew arrested

The nephew of Maldives president Abdulla Yameen has been arrested for allegedly bribing politicians to challenge the ruling regime, the opposition said yesterday, warning of further reprisals in the troubled honeymoon islands.

Faris Maumoon, an MP and son of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, was taken into custody after police searched his home in the capital Male on Tuesday.

The passport of another key opposition figure Qasim Ibrahim, a former ally of strongman Yameen, was also seized by authorities.

Opposition parties aligned against Yameen issued a joint statement condemning the arrests.

The opposition this month secured enough support from government defectors to begin impeachment proceedings against the speaker, in a bid to wrest control of parliament from Yameen before presidential elections next year.

The latest arrests come a week before parliament is due to vote on the impeachment proceedings.