The Maldives' opposition leader was allowed to return home on Saturday after 18 months' self-imposed exile, indicating President Abdul Gayoom would keep his promise to usher in political reform, a party official said. Mohammad Nasheed, chairman of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), arrived in the Maldivian capital Male around noon (0700 GMT) and was greeted by some 4,000 cheering supporters at the airport, the official said. MDP officials had feared Nasheed, who has been living in Sri Lanka, might be arrested on arrival in the Indian Ocean archipelago because of his pro-reform stance.
"President Gayoom has shown political maturity and clear understanding of political realities of the country through his decision not to arrest Nasheed on arrival," MDP founder Mohammed Latheef, who remained in Colombo, told Reuters.
"He (Nasheed) knows what he can and cannot do in Male so we are not looking for trouble. His priority will be to start a membership drive and set up party branches there," he said.
Like many other MDP members, Nasheed was imprisoned several times in the Maldives in the past for seeking democratic reforms.
Political parties are illegal in the islands, famous for their white-sand beaches and some of the world's best scuba diving.
But in parliamentary elections this year, 30 candidates endorsed by MDP activists in nearby Sri Lanka stood as independents and some won seats in key atolls including the capital Male.
After the polls, Gayoom - Asia's longest serving ruler - promised amendments to the constitution, including one to change the way the president is elected and allow multi-party democracy before January 2006 in the country of about 280,000 people.
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