Maldives impeaches VP accused of plotting to kill president

In photo taken on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adeeb speaks to media in Male, Maldives. The vice president of the Maldives will be charged with high treason after being arrested Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 in connection with an explosion aboard the president’s boat last month that authorities have called an assassination attempt, officials said. (Fayaz Moosa/Sun Media Group via AP)

Maldives’ Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to impeach the country’s vice president, who has been accused of plotting to kill the president.

Ahmed Adeeb is the second vice president to be impeached in three months. He has been arrested for allegedly planning to kill President Yameen Abdul Gayoom in an explosion on his speedboat on Sept. 28.

The impeachment motion received 61 votes in favor and none opposed in the 85-member Parliament on Thursday. The main opposition group, the Maldivian Democratic Party, abstained.

The president declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, saying the explosion and subsequent discovery of arms posed a threat to national security.