VP: Not aware of any coup attempt, government will not fall

Maldivian Vice President, Abdulla Jihad has said that he wasn’t aware anyone was making any attempt to overthrow the government, adding that the current Maldivian government cannot be overthrown.

Speaking during the Social Council press conference held at President’s Office on Sunday afternoon, VP Jihad denied that he was aware of anyone planning a coup to overthrow

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, saying that the government cannot be overthrown in any coup, and the only way the government can be changed is through a vote.

He said that talk of a coup was simply fear mongering planned by the opposition.

“I am not aware the government is in the brink of being overthrown. A government cannot be so easily overthrown. The government can only be changes through a vote,” said Jihad.

He also denied allegations that he met with reporters from Al-Jazeera during his recent visit to United Arab Emirates.

Jihad said that he was sad to hear such rumors, and said that it “proved the false information circulated by the media”.

He said that the media needed to comply with the principles of Islamic Sharia.

Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs, Ahmed Azleen criticized the opposition, alleging that they were threatening a coup while hidden in some other country because they did not have any confidence they could win the Presidential Elections in 2018.

Anticipation is high ahead of the Al-Jazeera documentary "Stealing Paradise" which promises to uncover corruption within the current Maldivian government.

It is scheduled to be released this Sunday evening.