Maldives calls off resort spa ban

The president of the Maldives has ordered the country's resorts to reopen their spas pending a court decision, just days after they were shut under pressure from an Islamic opposition party.

President Mohammed Nasheed has asked the country's Supreme Court to decide whether operating spas is against the principles of Islam - a decision that could be critical to the country's economic lifeline.

Last week, authorities ordered all spas to be closed following a mass protest on December 23 calling for a halt to what demonstrators called "anti-Islamic activities" in the Indian Ocean island nation.