In response, Yameen clamped down the state of emergency and arrested Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge along with several politicians on February 6.
The three judges remaining on the Supreme Court overturned the court’s unanimous ruling ordering the release of the nine politicians.
On Wednesday, Yameen reiterated his offer to hold negotiations with the opposition.
Responding to an earlier offer of talks by Yameen, the Joint Opposition led by Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party wrote to Guterres asking him to mediate and to oversee the talks.
The opposition leaders expressed scepticism about the talks offer saying they was concerned that it was a ploy to ease international reaction to its recent actions, according to the Colombo Gazette. Earlier this month Guterres, who has called for restoration of democracy, reiterated “his belief in finding a solution to the political stalemate in the Maldives through all-party talks, which the UN continues to stand ready to facilitate”.
