In this handout photograph released by the Maldivian Democratic Party on Monday, Maldives Opposition Leader Mohamed Nasheed sits in a plane about to leave the Maldives. (Photo: AFP)
In this handout photograph released by the Maldivian Democratic Party on Monday, Maldives Opposition Leader Mohamed Nasheed sits in a plane about to leave the Maldives. (Photo: AFP)
Mohamed Nasheed, the former Maldives President serving a 13-year jail sentence on terror charges, has arrived here on his way to London for urgent medical treatment, his party said on Tuesday.
Mr Nasheed, 48, arrived Monday night in Colombo and will be leaving by a Srilankan Airlines direct flight to London later on Tuesday, Maldivian Democratic Party sources said.
He is currently lodged at a five-star hotel in Colombo and is expected to leave for London for a back surgery.
Mr Nasheed was supposed to leave on Sunday after a deal brokered by diplomats from India and Sri Lanka as well as Britain, but his departure was delayed as the government imposed new conditions on his trip.
The government was insisting that he nominate a family member to stay in the capital Male to guarantee his return.
Mr Nasheed initially refused the government request to leave a family member behind who had to sign as a guarantor for his return, but finally agreed to the offer.
According to the Maldivian government, Mr Nasheed had signed an undertaking to return after his treatment and his brother has agreed to act as guarantor.
Mr Nasheed on Tuesday thanked world leaders who helped secure his release.
“He is making calls to world leaders to thank them for their support in getting him released,” his aide Ahmed Naseem said.
“The Sri Lankan government has been extremely kind,” Mr Naseem said, referring to an internationally brokered deal to secure Mr Nasheed’s 30-day freedom.
Aides said Mr Nasheed had decided against speaking to reporters in Colombo on Tuesday, given the intense diplomacy involved in brokering the deal, and would only meet his doctors in Colombo before leaving.
