MALDIVES – The Maldives has warned India against interfering in itspolitical crisis, deepening a rift with the country once seen as itsclosest ally.

New Delhi has expressed concern about the situation in the honeymoonislands, whose president has sacked top judges, jailed political dissidentsand imposed a state of emergency in recent weeks.

On Wednesday it said it was “deeply dismayed” by the extension of emergencyrule, earning an official rebuke from the Maldives foreign ministry.

“There is no doubt that the Maldives is experiencing one of the mostdifficult periods in the history of the nation,” the islands’ ministry saidin a statement late Thursday.

“It is therefore important that friends and partners in the internationalcommunity, including India, refrain from any actions that could hinderresolving the situation facing the country.”

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen has jailed almost all his politicalopponents since coming to power in late 2013 and the resulting fall-out hasdented the nation’s image as a popular holiday destination.

The UN human rights chief has described the imposition of a state ofemergency following a power struggle with the Supreme Court as “an all-outassault on democracy”.

Exiled opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed has urged India to intervenemilitarily in the crisis — a request the government has not publiclyaddressed.

The Yameen regime has leaned heavily on India’s regional rival China forpolitical and financial support to build infrastructure in the nation of1,190 tiny coral islands.

Despite criticism from the international community, legislators fromYameen’s party on Tuesday controversially approved a 30-day extension ofemergency rule. – APP/AFP