Maldives ejected from Commonwealth panel over vote delay

The Commonwealth expelled the Maldives today from its disciplinary panel which has begun investigating the political chaos in the country after repeated court interventions that scuttled elections, a diplomat said.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which can recommend the expulsion of countries from the 53-member bloc, ejected the Indian Ocean islands during a meeting in the Sri Lankan capital today.

"As long as Maldives remains on the agenda of CMAG, it can't be a member of this panel," the diplomat said after the Commonwealth issued a statement confirming that the Maldives was discussed today.

The country faces a constitutional crisis after three presidential elections were cancelled, with Western and Indian diplomats increasingly vocal in their criticism of the regime of incumbent Mohamed Waheed.

Opposition leader and former president Mohammed Nasheed has won two votes in the last two months with more than 45 percent of ballots, but a run-off election has been repeatedly delayed by the Supreme Court.

"Ministers will continue to monitor the situation in Maldives closely over the coming days," the Commonwealth said in a statement. "The chair of CMAG will brief Commonwealth heads of government on 15 November 2013, when they meet in Colombo.