Maldives environment minister resigns ahead of poll
31 Aug 2008 11:02:57 GMT Source: Reuters
By Judith Evans and Olivia Lang MALE, Aug 31 (Reuters) -- The environment minister of the Maldives quit on Sunday, becoming the 12th cabinet member to resign this year ahead of historic elections due in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation. Environment Minister Ahmed Abdullah, the longest-serving cabinet member in President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's government, also quit the ruling party. That means Gayoom, who has ruled for 30 years, and his Dhivehi Raiyyithunge party now have a parliamentary majority of just two seats out of 50 heading into the first multi-party elections on the islands since he came to power. "I've resigned because I don't agree with the government's thinking, their beliefs and policies," Abdullah told Reuters. "I have always tried to implement sustainable environmental policies but they have not been carried out." Human rights groups and critics have accused Gayoom of ruling the islands like a sultan of old, and having cracked down hard on political opposition. But he has won some international attention for speaking out on global warming and rising sea levels, issues close to home for the Maldives -- which on average is just 1.5 metres above sea level. Already this year, 11 other ministers have resigned. Seven of them were required to choose between government service and their business interests when constitutional reforms barring them from doing both went into effect on Aug. 7. The ministers of trade, tourism and finance also quit in July over controversy surrounding an expected 4.4 billion ruffiya ($342 million) budget deficit. A number of former ministers have joined the new Republican Party, through which former Finance Minister Gasim Ibrahim is planning to challenge Gayoom. ($1=12.8 ruffiya) (Writing by Bryson Hull; Editing by Alex Richardson)
(L-R) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shake hands as Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf ...
