COLOMBO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives government Saturday formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from the Island nation, according to information from Male.
The request was made by the new President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, during his meeting with a representative of the Indian government.
"At the meeting, President Muizzu had formally requested Government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives," a statement issued by the office of the Maldives President said.
"The President noted that at the Presidential election held in September, the Maldivian people had given him a strong mandate to make the request to India and expressed the hope that India will honour the democratic will of the people of the Maldives."
The request was made a day after Muizzu was sworn in as the 8th president of the Maldives.
Reports said India has some 70 soldiers in the Maldives, manning radars and surveillance aircraft. Indian warships also help patrol the country's exclusive economic zone.
