Politically, all is not well with Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom--the longest-serving leader in Asia.

Protesting his autocratic ways, three cabinet ministers have resigned and one of them is all set to contest against him in the forthcoming polls, reports from the tiny Indian Ocean country said.

If emerging reports are to be believed, other ministers are to follow suit.

Worse, the trio -- Justice minister Hassan Saeed, attorney general Mohammed Jameel and foreign minister Ahmed Shaheed - - claimed they had been subjected to intimidation and threats since they announced their resignation. Their offices were allegedly broken into and documents removed.

The three ministers are now touring in London [Images], wooing parliamentarians and members of the small Maldivian community, said a newspaper report.

The revolt came after the Gayoom reneged on a promise, in which he said he would step down after 29 years in power. The president, who is officially 60, but whose real age is allegedly 76, changed his mind and expressed his wish to continue for another five years.

The ministers who resigned said other members of the government might put in their papers before the election scheduled next year.

The resignations are a big blow to Gayoom as they have widespread contacts among politicians and the media and the influential neighbours like India.

The three former ministers have reportedly established contact with other parties, including the main opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party to float an united front.

The tiny island was hit by a bomb attack last September, which injured 12 tourists. The blast is said to have been the work of a Islamist movement, but Gayoom blamed reformists and pro-democracy activists for creating "instability".

According to Saeed, the government was warned of the dangers of terrorism in the island, but he ignored it. Gayoom failed to act, he alleged.

Image: A file picture of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom