Britain has granted political asylum to three more political leaders in self imposed exile including former vice president Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.
In addition to Jameel, Mihaaru understands that Britain has granted political refugee status to main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chairperson Ali Waheed and deputy Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Ameen Ibrahim.
The trio along with their families have been given asylum under the UN refugee agency policy, it has emerged.
Mihaaru has been unable to obtain an official confirmation from either governments.
The UK in May had granted asylum to jailed former president Mohamed Nasheed after he was allowed to leave for medical treatment in an internationally brokered deal in January.
Nasheed had been sentenced last March on a terrorism charge over the arrest and subsequent detention of a sitting Judge during his presidency, in a trial widely criticized for lack of due process.
Jameel had meanwhile fled to the UK last July, days before he was impeached in a controversial vote.
Waheed and Ameen left to the UK for fear of prosecution following the May Day protest last year.
The opposition has announced a united front to oust incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and form an interim government to ensure free and fair elections scheduled in 2018.
The Maldives United Opposition brings together the Maldivian Democratic Party, the Adhaalath Party, two of Yameen’s former deputies and his former defence minister.
Police have meanwhile ordered Jameel to come in for questioning over a forged warrant to arrest president within 14 days.
Jameel however, had said he was ready to cooperate with the police but will only return to the Maldives after president Yameen is arrested for mass corruption
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