Male', Maldives. The Canarygate Scandal of political corruption, obstruction of justice and abuse of power which led to Mohamed Nasheed's resignation as President, yesterday entered a new dimension as Nasheed's Israeli connection was revealed to be Ismail Saadiq, of the FPID and 7/11 corruption scandals in the 1990s. Ismail Saadiq, at Nasheed's request, visited Israel after Nasheed's resignation, in a bid to secure Israeli support for Nasheed's come-back bid. Sources close to Nasheed report that Saadiq's visit was to request Israel to pressure the US to support Nasheed's call for an early election. Saadiq and Nasheed's ex-Chief of Staff, Ahmed Mausoom, were in the process of setting up a joint venture for supplying STO Maldives with Israeli oil when Nasheed resigned on February 7th. Saadiq, a Maldivian trader engaged in various corrupt activities, first leapt to local prominence in the late 1970s when he spilled the beans on Kandi Ahmed Maniku...
The protest held tonight to raise voice for the resignation of Abdullah Shahid as State Minister of Defense and to stop appointing such convicts for senior government posts was brought to an end by force by the Maldives Police Services. Protesters were carrying photos of the murdered victims of the November 3rd terrorist act which Shahid is said to be part of. The gathering was held at the republic square (a.k.a Jumhooree Maidhan). However, the government could not abide this and the police were ordered to put an end to a peaceful protest. According to Haveeru, some of the protesters were arrested and brought to police custody. The government has no right to stop such gatherings. Is this the so called "Democracy" president Nasheed (Anni) promised us?