Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) founder Mohamed Latheef charged that the Maldives is sliding into chaos with President Gayoom’s regime encouraging lawlessness in the archipelago.

"Gayoom has declared a de-facto emergency rule to govern the country with an iron fist and anybody who opposes or questions his or his cohorts’ actions will be jailed", he asserted at a news conference at the Cinnomon Grand Hotel.

Latheef said that "Gayoom is getting the gangsters and other unruly elements to do his bidding and there is a nexus between the key government officials and the gang leaders".

The President is using the army to instill a fear psychosis in the minds of the Maldivian people, he claimed. "People are murdered in broad daylight".

"A few weeks ago a !7-year-old boy was assaulted and killed by a drug gang and in another instance a 14-year-old was beaten to death in the Capital Male as people looked aghast as they were helpless", he charged..

Drug addiction in the country has reached alarming proportions. One could see the number of teenagers who openly take drugs without any inhibition said Presidential candidate Umar Nasser.

Asked if the government encourages drug addiction, he said "Its quite apparent as the government has not taken any steps to control it."

Government officials, drug barons and the traffickers are hand in glove, he claimed.

Latheef said if Gayoom believes that the youngsters hooked to drugs have no political ambitions and hence he could continue with his dictatorial rule, he is sadly mistaken as they will do any thing to get their next ‘shot’. The crime rate will then rapidly increase and reach a situation where the government will not be able to control it.

Presidential candidate Ismail said in Maldives "we are witnessing a failure of governance and breakdown public order". The President is only concerned about his own survival and self enrichment at the expense of the country’s long term national security and social, political and economic wellbeing. Forty percent of the country’s population still live below poverty line and the high GDP per capita is a result of a small number of individuals monopolising national wealth and they are Gayoom’s relatives or cronies, he pointed out.

"State terror is systematically used against the opposition members including parliamentarians, media and those who support the opposition. On the other hand President Gayoom often uses the Judiciary to intimidate the opposition and over 180 opposition supporters have politically motivated charges against them, mostly unlawful assembly," he said.