Mohamed Nasheed, who heads the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), is accused of trying to incite the overthrow of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and has been charged with terrorism and sedition for allegedly making comments against him at a rally.
The trial began on Thursday focusing on the sedition charge. The terrorism charge would likely be introduced later in the trial, Attorney General Hassan Saeed told Reuters by telephone from the capital, Male. "The charge read out in court ... is offences against the state - the attempted forceful overthrow of the government," Saeed said. "He has pleaded not guilty."
"It can carry life imprisonment or life banishment, or 10-15 years in jail ... The minimum should be 10 years," he added.