India expresses 'deep concern' at developments in Maldives

Voicing deep concern at the developments in Maldives, India on Thursday said it was monitoring the situation closely after former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

"India deeply concerned at developments in Maldives, monitoring situation closely," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.

Nasheed was charged under anti-terrorism laws after he was found guilty of ordering the arrest of a judge while in office.

The former president was cleared of the charges last month but was re-arrested and charged under anti-terrorism laws.

Hundreds of people took to the streets last month after the former leader's arrest and have been protesting on a regular basis.

During the second trial, Nasheed's lawyers quit saying it was biased and intended to end his political career.

The judge at the court said that the prosecution proved that Nasheed had ordered the "arrest or forceful abduction and detention" of Judge Abdulla Mohamed in January 2012.

Mohamed was detained shortly after he ordered the release of an opposition leader that provoked weeks of protests.