Maldives profile

President: Mohamed Nasheed

A former political prisoner, Mohamed 'Anni' Nasheed was elected in the Maldives' first multi-party presidential elections in October 2008, ending President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's 30-year autocratic rule.

A new constitution ratified in August 2008 had provided for the separation of powers between the executive and the legislative, a bill of rights and the first multi-party presidential elections.

The government operates Voice of Maldives radio and Television Maldives. The first private radio station opened in 2007 and a handful of private TV stations have been licensed.

Media rights group Reporters Without Borders describes radio licence charges as exorbitant. Minivan Radio, an opposition station, operates via the internet.

Divehi-language dailies tend to include English-language pages. They concentrate on local and regional stories.

Broadcasters and newspapers carry criticism of the state, but officials have powers to close media outlets. Self-regulation means that little official action is taken against journalists.

In April 2009 President Nasheed pledged to deregulate the media and ensure press freedom and competition.

The Maldives is made up of a chain of nearly 1,200 islands, most of them uninhabited, which lie off the Indian sub-continent.

None of the coral islands measures more than 1.8 metres (six feet) above sea level, making the country vulnerable to a rise in sea levels associated with global warming.

With its abundant sealife and sandy beaches, The Maldives is portrayed by travel companies as a tropical paradise.

The economy revolves around tourism, and scores of islands have been developed for the top end of the tourist market.

A chronology of key events:

12th century - Islam introduced.

1558-1573 - Portuguese occupation, which ends after expulsion by locals.

17th century - Islands become a protectorate first of the Dutch rulers of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and later of the British who take control of Ceylon in 1796.

1887 - Status formalised as internally self-governing British protectorate.

1932 - First democratic constitution proclaimed. The sultanate becomes an elected position.

1953 - Becomes a republic within the Commonwealth as the sultanate is abolished. However, the Sultan is restored within months.

1965 - Full independence as a sultanate outside Commonwealth.

1968 - Sultan deposed after referendum; republic reinstated with Ibrahim Nasir as president.

1978 - Nasir retires, replaced by Maumoon Abd al-Gayoom.