Ex-Maldives Leader's 13-Year Term Commuted to House Arrest

Colombo: Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed has had his 13-year prison sentence commuted to a term under house arrest, his international lawyer Jared Genser said today.

"The government of the Maldives has permanently moved president Nasheed to house arrest for the balance of his 13-year term in prison", Genser told reporters in Colombo, the capital of neighbouring Sri Lanka.

The lawyer's comments came hours after the Maldives government said it would appeal against Nasheed's conviction in March which drew heavy international criticism.