Maldives ex-leader Nasheed ends exile

AFP  |  Colombo 

Former returned home from exile Thursday, two days after the country's withdrew a warrant for his

It was not immediately clear what role he will have in the new government to be constituted by Solih this month.

The had ruled that Nasheed could not be detained until his appeal against the jail sentence for terrorism is heard.

The 51-year-old democracy champion was branded a fugitive from justice when he went into exile in 2016 after seeking medical treatment abroad while serving the jail sentence.

He risked if he ever returned to the under Abdulla Yameen, who jailed or exiled most of his opponents.

However, the suffered a surprise defeat last month in an election and must leave office on November 17.

The president-elect is a nominee of Nasheed's

Nasheed had hoped to run against Yameen but was barred by the election commission.

Since Yameen's defeat, political prisoners have been freed and exiles have returned from abroad as the prepares a transition to new leadership.

Elected in the country's first democratic poll in 2008, Nasheed was found guilty of terrorism in 2015 in a trial the UN said was politically motivated.

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First Published: Thu, November 01 2018. 16:35 IST