Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom escaped an attack
unharmed Tuesday morning while inspecting a remote island in the
tiny India Ocean country, said the president's office in a
statement.
"An unidentified man attempted to attack the president with a
knife earlier today... upon his arrival at Hoarafushi. The
president escaped this serious attack without any harm," said the
statement.
Gayoom thanked Mohamed Jaisham Ibrahim, a 15-year-old Boy Scout
of Hoarafushi who saw the assailant's attempt and successfully
deflected the attack.
Hoarafushi is one of the most populated islands in the northern
Maldives with around 3,000 residents.
The president said that this incident did not deter his will to
serve the people, adding that all such attempts to disrupt the
peace of the country would not succeed and that their objectives
cannot be achieved.
He also wished the boy, who was seriously injured in the
incident, a speedy and full recovery, said the statement.
A spokesman from the Maldives Police Service said the attack,
happened around 10:40 a.m. (0540 GMT), was carried out by
20-year-old Hoarafushi resident Mohamed Murshid using a sharp
object.
"Investigation into the case is underway by Serious and
Organized Crime Unit of Criminal Investigation Department of
Maldives Police Service," said the spokesman, adding that the
president is continuing his tour of the northern part of the
country.
The incident happened as the country is facing its first-ever
multi-party elections this year.
(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2008)
