Commonwealth Ministers to hold meeting regarding Maldives political crisis

BBC has reported that Commonwealth will hold a meeting at ministerial level within 24 hours regarding the stand-off between President Dr Mohamed Waheed and former President Mohamed Nasheed.

A teleconference of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) has been initiated by Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, according to BBC.

The article cited the Head of the bloc’s delegation in the Maldives Akbar Khan, who told Reuters news agency that the teleconference will be held "to review the circumstances pertaining to the transfer of power".

CMAG has the authority to suspend member states.

Former President Nasheed has demanded early elections - a demand which has been swiftly refused by President Dr Waheed who insists on holding elections at the end of 2013 as previously planned. India and U.S. have recognised the new government. U.S. has also said that current conditions in the country are not conductive for an election.