MALE, Maldives, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The Maldives declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, after an explosive device was found near the president's residence, but the move could be a tactic to hinder the political opposition.
The announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came two days after the device was reportedly found in a car, near President Abdulla Yameen's place of residence, CNN reported.
The device, a piece of dynamite affixed to a remote detonator, had been placed in a car parked near Yameen's residence, according to the ministry.
The Maldives' state of emergency means the government is facing a national security threat, but The Telegraph reported there would be no restrictions on tourist movements. The constitutional freedoms of locals to meet and travel, however, would be strictly regulated.
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The declaration also gives security forces extensive powers to arrest suspects, and comes two days before a protest planned by the country's opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party, BBC reported.
State media had reported in late October Vice President Ahmed Adeeb had been arrested and charged with treason for an alleged assassination attempt on Yameen.
The incident involved an explosion on a speedboat transporting Yameen and his team on Sept. 28. Yameen was not injured, but his wife and two other people were hurt.
Political unrest has been growing in the Maldives since 2012, when former President Mohamed Nasheed was removed from power.
Nasheed was the country's first democratically elected leader.
