Diplomats from P 5 + 1 (U.S., U.K., Russia, France and China plus Germany) besides neighbours Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, in addition to Australia felt India must continue taking the lead in pushing Maldives towards holding elections in a way that there is no power vacuum.

Diplomats from P 5 + 1 (U.S., U.K., Russia, France and China plus Germany) besides neighbours Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, in addition to Australia felt India must continue taking the lead in pushing Maldives towards holding elections in a way that there is no power vacuum.

This means elections should be completed by November 11 as there is no provision in the Constitution for a situation in which there is no President by that date, raising concerns that the resulting void would be the breeding ground for instability.

Ambassadors from Malaysia and UAE were among those invited but could not make it as they were out of town.