Colombo, August 25:

The Maldives’ main opposition leader will be tried on charges of inciting terrorism after he warned the country’s president of “serious consequences” if he refused to resign immediately, a government spokesman said.

Mohamed Nasheed, leader of the Maldives Democratic Party, was arrested on August 12 in the capital, Male, marking a police crackdown on activists demanding democratic reforms a year earlier, party spokesman Mohamed Latheef said. “Mr Nasheed has been charged on two counts, offenses against the state and under one section of the anti-terrorism law,” government spokesman Mohamed Shareef said yesterday. If convicted, Nasheed could face up to life imprisonment, he added.