Maldives president unhurt in boat blast

An explosion ripped through a speed boat carrying Maldives President Abdulla Yameen yesterday, injuring his wife and two others but leaving him unhurt.

It remains unclear what caused the explosion, which came at a time of heightened political tensions in the atoll nation after the controversial jailing of Yameen's predecessor Mohamed Nasheed.

Unconfirmed reports suggested the blast, which occurred as the tightly-guarded vessel docked in the capital island Male, came from the engine room below deck.

"The first lady Fathimath Ibrahim, a senior protocol officer and a bodyguard of the president were hurt and taken to hospital," said Mohamed Hussain Shareef, minister at the President's Office.

"The president was unhurt and he escorted the first lady to hospital where she is under observation following a minor injury," he told AFP.

The Maldives has launched an investigation into the incident and is seeking help from the United States and Australia to determine what happened.

Reporters had gathered at the presidential jetty to receive Yameen, who had landed a few minutes earlier at the nearby Hulhule airport after a visit to Saudi Arabia for the hajj pilgrimage.

State television footage showed the president being escorted off the boat and onto a police launch, while witnesses said they saw an ambulance rush to the jetty and authorities immediately cordoned off the area.