Scout Saves Maldives Leader From Assassin

A Scout has been credited with saving the life of the controversial president of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, in what appeared to be an assassination attempt yesterday. The 15-year-old boy was taken to hospital with wounds to his hands after preventing a man from stabbing the president with a kitchen knife.

Gayoom, 70, has ruled the archipelago for nearly 30 years. He was visiting the Hoarafushi atoll when the attack took place. A man was reported to have emerged from a crowd and lunged at the president when Mohamed Jaisham Ibrahim grabbed the weapon. The attacker was being questioned by police last night.

In a speech on the atoll after the attack, Gayoom said he was "grateful to almighty Allah" for saving him. He visited the Scout and his family before the boy was taken to the capital, Malé, for treatment. He was said last night to be expected to make a full recovery.

The man detained was named by local media yesterday as Mohamed Murushid, 20, but his motive was unclear.

Gayoom has run an autocratic government for many years and has jailed opponents and suppressed the opposition.

The local newspaper Minivan News said the attacker shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) as he tried to stab the president. A presidential spokesman said: "[Gayoom] was saved by a boy who tried to grab the knife and suffered a serious injury to his hand. The president was not hurt, but the knife did catch his shirt. It was definitely an assassination attempt."

The Friends of the Maldives, a pro-democracy group, said: "We condemn the assassination attempt. We also condemn the government's attempt to assign blame without a proper investigation."