Maldives ejected from Commonwealth panel over poll delay

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) has expelled the Maldives from its disciplinary panel over the delay in presidential polls caused by the political chaos in the country.

CMAG said that the Maldives cannot be a member of this panel, until it remains on the agenda of CMAG, the Daily Times reports.

The Commonwealth has the authority to recommend the expulsion of countries from the 53-member bloc, the report added.

The statement was issued after the Maldives' political situation was discussed in the Sri Lankan capital.

According to the report, three presidential elections have been cancelled over the past few months.

The Maldives has been facing political turmoil since former President Mohamed Nasheed was ousted in 2012.

Nasheed had won the first round of the election with 45 percent votes, against five percent won by President Mohamed Waheed in September, but a run-off election has been repeatedly delayed by the Supreme Court.