1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt

The 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt was the attempt by a group of Maldivians led by businessman Abdullah Luthufi and assisted by armed mercenaries of a Tamil secessionist organisation from Sri Lanka, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), to overthrow the government in the island republic of Maldives. The mercenaries quickly gained control of the capital, including the major government buildings, airport, port, television and radio stations. The intervention by Indian armed forces - codenamed 'Operation Cactus' trounced the attempted coup.

1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt

The 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt was the attempt by a group of Maldivians led by businessman Abdullah Luthufi and assisted by armed mercenaries of a Tamil secessionist organisation from Sri Lanka, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), to overthrow the government in the island republic of Maldives. The mercenaries quickly gained control of the capital, including the major government buildings, airport, port, television and radio stations. The intervention by Indian armed forces - codenamed 'Operation Cactus' trounced the attempted coup.