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A former rights campaigner who had increasingly
come under attack for arbitrary rule, Nasheed,
44, announced that he was resigning after a little
over three years in power as he did not want to
use force to curb escalating street protests.
After the departure of the first democratically
elected president in the history of the Maldives,
Vice President Mohammad Waheed Hassan, a former
top UNICEF official, took oath as the president.
A tourist haven, the Maldives is made up of several
atolls and lies southwest of Sri Lanka. It has
a population of over 350,000, most of them Sunni
Muslims. The main language is Dhivehi, a Sinhalese
dialect.
Hussain Shareef, chief spokesperson and member
of the interim council of the opposition Progressive
Party of Maldives (PPM), said Nasheed is in the
custody of the army and will be granted constitutional
rights.
Nasheed was elected president Oct 28, 2008, when
he defeated president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who
had ruled the Maldives for three decades.
Nasheed's resignation happened only after the
army applied pressure on the Maldivian Democratic
Party (MDP) leader, leading him in the morning
to the television office to make his dramatic
announcement, media reports said.
"I resign because I am not a person who
wishes to rule with the use of power. I believe
that if the government were to remain in power,
it would require the use of force which would
harm many citizens," he said in a statement
broadcast on state-run television seized by rogue
policemen.
"I resign because I believe that if the
government continues to stay in power, it is very
likely that we may face foreign influences,"
he said. "I have made this decision."
Nasheed had hit the global headlines three years
ago when he held a cabinet meeting under water
to highlight global warming and the threat to
his atoll nation.
As fast paced events unfolded at Male, Maldivian
authorities went out of their way to deny intense
speculation that a coup had taken place. The Maldivian
and foreign media reported jubilation on the streets
of capital Male as opposition activists celebrated.
Nasheed had run into widespread anger after a
senior judge, Abdulla Mohamed, was arrested by
the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) over
a fortnight ago on corruption charges.
The judge was reportedly confined to one of the
lesser inhabited islands. The Maldives is made
up of about 1,200 mostly small islands, with only
200 inhabited.
Supporters of former president Maumoon Abdul
Gayoom control parliament and have organised protests
against the judge's internment.
Tension and sporadic violence had been escalating,
with the ruling MDP alleging attacks on its supporters
and offices by opposition activists not happy
with long-time ruler Gayoom's departure.
Since Tuesday morning, there was intense speculation
that Nasheed had been taken into custody. Shops
and businesses in Male quickly shut down.
In the meantime, officers of the Maldivian National
Defence Force (MNDF), the number ranging from
60 to 600, joined the demonstrations.
Events galloped rapidly thereafter. Opposition
protesters and rogue policemen then seized the
Maldives National Broadcasting Corp (MNBC) and
quickly renamed it Television Maldives (TVM),
reports said.
That led a government official to say a coup
attempt was underway, causing concern in many
capitals, including New Delhi.
The presidency denied Nasheed had resigned, until
the president actually stepped down.
The opposition Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) told
Sri Lanka's Sunday Leader that most police and
army personnel were backing Nasheed's removal.
DQP spokesperson Mohamad Malech Jamal said there
were now celebrations in Male and the airport
and the state broadcaster were under the control
of the police and army.
"About 800 police officers gathered at the
Republic Square. Several of them called for the
president's resignation," Jamal was quoted
as saying.
The Maldivian government appealed for calm.
"The government of Maldives together with
all state institutions will work to ensure peace
and stability in Male," a statement said.
"Government calls to people to remain calm
and support to stabilize the situation,"
it added.
(IANS)
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