Defence ministry has barred soldiers from meeting politicians and foreign diplomats amid opposition efforts to oust president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom from office.
Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) in a statement said soldiers are barred from meeting ministers, lawmakers, political appointees, candidates seeking public office, political party leaders and political activists without prior permission from a senior military official.
The ban also extends to foreign diplomats, officers of foreign armies and other foreign representatives
Soldiers have also been barred from social gatherings attended by politicians and foreigners.
The sudden announcement comes in the wake of president Yameen's bid to exert his grip on power and thwart efforts by the newly formed opposition coalition to oust him from office.
The newly formed opposition alliance had said it will seek to oust incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and form an interim government to ensure free and fair elections scheduled in 2018.
Five rival opposition groups had announced a united front to remove president Yameen from office.
The Maldives United Opposition brings together the Maldivian Democratic Party, the Adhaalath Party, two of Yameen’s former deputies and his former defence minister.
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