Maldives Impeaches Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Over Alleged Role In Boat Blast Aimed At Killing President

Maldives Parliament unanimously voted Thursday to impeach the vice president over his alleged role in a boat blast aimed at killing the country's President Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The voting took place after the parliament endorsed a monthlong declaration of state emergency by the president Wednesday.

Ahmed Adeeb, who is the second vice president to be impeached in three months, was reportedly arrested for allegedly planning to kill Gayoom in an explosion on his speedboat on Sept. 28. In July, Maldives voted to impeach the Vice President Mohamed Jameel after accusing him of dereliction of duties.

According to the Associated Press, 61 votes were in favor of the impeachment motion while 57 votes were required to impeach the vice president. The main opposition group, the Maldivian Democratic Party, abstained from the vote.

President Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim were travelling to Male on Sept. 28 when the explosion took place. The incident took place after they returned home that morning after concluding their visit to Saudi Arabia to perform the annual hajj pilgrimage.

The president was unhurt in the attack, but the first lady suffered a spinal fracture and still remains in hospital.

On Wednesday, the president declared a state of emergency, saying that the explosion and subsequent discovery of arms posed a threat to national security.