"Maldives pres will continue to protect Maumoon"

Minister of Tourism Moosa Zameer proclaimedon Wednesday that President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom will continue to ensure the protection of his half-brother and former president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Speaking at a ruling coalition rally, the minister assured that security and protection will be provided for Former President Maumoon though he is currently not working alongside the government.

Minister Zameer also noted that President Yameen had been one of the top officials in the campaign of the Presidential Elections 2008. He declared that despite Maumoon's loss to his successor Mohamed Nasheed, the former had achieved the majority of votes from the islands in which incumbent President Yameen had campaigned on his brother's behalf.

While Moosa Zameer made the remark, Former President Maumoon has been directly targeted by the government on several issues, including cutting down the allowances allocated to former presidents and limiting his security. The opposition claim that such actions stemmed from Maumoon's criticisms of the government.

Meanwhile, it has been more than two months since Former President Maumoon departed for India due to the ill health of a close family member of his wife, Nasreena Ibrahim.

Minister Zameer added that the results of the Local Council Election have given the ruling coalition new drive and pronounced that they will establish campaign hubs in all of the constituencies to work together with government aligned parties, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).

Adding that studies are being conducted to discern the reasons behind the ruling coalition's defeat in the local elections and to find solutions, he said that the government does not plan to stop any of the developmental projects being carried out in various parts of the country.

Meanwhile, incumbent President Yameen and Former President Maumoon have recently grown more critical of each other's actions. Former President Maumoon has repeatedly declared that the current administration is going against the constitution.