Colombo: Maldives security forces broke into the Supreme Court on Monday, court spokesman Faisal Adam told Reuters, hours after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency for 15 days, in an escalation of a legal battle with the archipelago's top court.

Yameen had earlier defied a Supreme Court ruling that nine jailed opposition leaders must be released.

Legal Affairs Minister Azima Shakoor announced the emergency in a televised address. Under its terms, judges will no longer be granted special privileges if they are facing arrest.

"Certain rights will be restricted (but) general movements, services and businesses will not be affected," the president's office said in a statement about the emergency.

"The government of Maldives wishes to also assure all Maldivians and the international community that the safety of all Maldivians and foreigners living in and visiting the Maldives, will be ensured," it said.

Eva Abdulla, an opposition legislator said the latest declaration of State of Emergency "is an indication of President Yameen's desperation".

"It only serves to show an isolated man who no longer has the confidence of the Maldivian people and independent institutions. He has no democratic mandate to govern and must resign immediately," she said in a statement.

Reuters