Maldives lawmaker stabbed to death

2012-10-02 13:01

Forensic officers stand outside the house of lawmaker Afrasheem Ali in Male, Maldives. (Sinan Hussain, AP)

Colombo — Police say a lawmaker whose party is part of the Maldives' ruling coalition has been stabbed to death in his home.

Police spokesperson Hassan Haneef says Afrasheem Ali was killed on Monday night by an unidentified attacker at his home in the capital, Male. Haneef said an investigation was under way and "we are yet to establish a motive" for the killing.

The 46-year-old Ali was a member of the Progressive Party that's part of the coalition government in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Presidential spokesperson Abbas Riza condemned the killing and praised Ali as an Islamic scholar and someone who was "widely respected by the public".

He said perpetrators will be apprehended and brought before the law.

- AP