Power Struggle; Maldives Vice-President Arrested In Connection With An Alleged Assasination Plot Against The President

 Police in the Maldives arrested Vice President Ahmed Adeeb on Saturday in connection with an explosion aboard the president's boat last month that authorities have said was an assassination attempt, foxnews.com reports.

 

Adeeb was arrested at the airport when he returned from an official visit to China "on suspicion of involvement in the boat blast," police spokesman Ismail Ali told The Associated Press. He said Adeeb had been taken to a detention center.

 

Soon after the Sept. 28 blast aboard President Yameen Abdul Gayoom's speedboat, rumors began circulating that Adeeb was behind it, but he has denied that he was involved. If the president dies, is incapacitated or resigns, the vice president succeeds him, according to the Maldives' constitution

 

Officials described the attack as an assassination attempt and had arrested two senior police officers - a week after the president fired his defence minister. Home Minister Naseer said Mr Adeeb was being held on a prison island