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Attack on president of Maldives Attack on president of Maldives
(about 10 hours later)
The President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has escaped unhurt after an attempted knife attack.The President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has escaped unhurt after an attempted knife attack.
A man lunged at him while he was visiting an atoll in the far north of the Indian Ocean island chain.A man lunged at him while he was visiting an atoll in the far north of the Indian Ocean island chain.
A boy scout grabbed the kitchen knife as the assailant tried to strike. The attacker has been arrested and is being questioned by police. A boy scout grabbed the kitchen knife as the assailant tried to strike. The boy, who is 15, was seriously injured. The attacker was arrested by police.
President Gayoom had just got off a boat on to an island in the far north of islands when the attack took place.President Gayoom had just got off a boat on to an island in the far north of islands when the attack took place.
'Assassination attempt''Assassination attempt'
"He was shaking hands with supporters, when a young man came and tried to stab him with a large kitchen knife," presidential spokesman Mohammed Hussain Shareef Mundhu told the Reuters news agency. Presidential spokesman Mohammed Hussain Shareef said Mr Gayoom was greeting supporters when a man wielding a knife attempted to stab him.
"He was saved by a boy who moved in the way and tried to grab the knife and suffered a serious injury to his hand. "A 15-year-old boy scout standing near the assailant attempted to deflect the attack and was severely injured," a statement said.
"The president was not hurt, but the knife did catch his shirt. It was definitely an assassination attempt." "The president met with the boy and thanked and praised him for his bravery."
Mr Mundhu said that the attacker was wielding the knife wrapped in the national flag of the Maldives. Mr Shareef said the boy suffered a serious injury to his hand.
The president was unhurt, although his shirt was spattered with blood. "The president was not hurt, but the knife did catch his shirt. It was definitely an assassination attempt," he told Reuters news agency.
Mr Shareef said that the attacker was wielding the knife wrapped in the national flag of the Maldives.
The president was unhurt, he said, although his shirt was spattered with blood.
Islamic militancyIslamic militancy
Mr Mundhu said the attack was more likely to have been carried out by President Gayoom's political rivals than Islamist hardliners. Mr Shareef said the attack was more likely to have been carried out by President Gayoom's political rivals than Islamist hardliners.
He ruled out any connection with a bomb blast in the capital, Male, last September.He ruled out any connection with a bomb blast in the capital, Male, last September.
That incident raised concerns over the possibility of Islamic militancy in the traditionally peaceful archipelago which is predominantly Muslim.That incident raised concerns over the possibility of Islamic militancy in the traditionally peaceful archipelago which is predominantly Muslim.
"We want to work out if this attack was orchestrated, or if he was working of his own devices," Mr Mundhu said.
"I think this is more to do with (his political opponents) than anything else."
President Gayoom is Asia's longest serving leader, elected to office in yes-or-no referendums.President Gayoom is Asia's longest serving leader, elected to office in yes-or-no referendums.
In recent years he has introduced reforms which include allowing political parties but the opposition says he is dragging his feet on change in a bid to hang on to power.In recent years he has introduced reforms which include allowing political parties but the opposition says he is dragging his feet on change in a bid to hang on to power.