MALE (TIP): Amidst continuing stand-off between the governmentand the former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, who remainedholed up in the Indian mission here for the eighth day, a high-levelteam of the Indian foreign office arrived here on Wednesday to resolvethe crisis.The team, which is headed by Harsh Vardhan Shringla, jointsecretary in the ministry of external affairs and includes officials oflegal background, met foreign minister Abdul Samad Abdulla, sourcessaid.

Meanwhile, the Maldivian court, which had issued the arrestwarrant against Nasheed, cancelled Wednesday’s hearing after thepolice informed it that they would not be able to produce Nasheed.President Mohamed Waheed’s press secretary Masood Imad said thatfollowing the expiry of the second arrest warrant, Nasheed is a freeman and can come out of the Indian mission without fearing an arrest.However, he added that if Nasheed continues to stay away from thecourt, then it can give a ruling in absentia.