Colombo, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed quit Tuesday, saying: "I resign because I am not a person who wishes to rule with the use of power". Nasheed said on state TV: "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. "I resign because I believe that if the government continues to stay in power, it is very likely that we may face foreign influences," minivannews.com quoted the 44-year-old president as saying. "I have always wished the citizens of this country well, now and into the future. I have made this decision and I wish for your prosperity in this life and the life after." Nasheed, elected only four years ago, resigned Tuesday following overnight protests, authorities and media reports said. Vice President Mohammad Waheed was now the acting president. The dramatic development followed overnight protests, sparked by the arrest on Nasheed's order of a judge over allegations of ...
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Colombo, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, elected only four years ago, resigned Tuesday following overnight protests, authorities and media reports said. The Maldives High Commission here said Vice President Mohammad Waheed was now the acting president. The dramatic development followed overnight protests, sparked by the arrest on Nasheed's order of a judge over allegations of corruption. The opposition Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) told Sri Lanka's Sunday Leader online edition that a majority of police and army were backing the president's removal. DQP spokesperson Mohamad Malech Jamal said there were now celebrations in Male following Nasheed's exit. He said the Male airport and the state broadcaster were under the control of the police and army. Maldivian journalists told Indian TV channels over telephone from Male that there had been no coup and that the president had submitted his resignation. He was apparently brought to his office in a car from army barracks. Violence broke out Monday night as the army and police were deployed to break up protesters, opposition figures said. "About 800 police officers gathered at the Republic Square. Several of ...
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Male, Maldives has learnt its "lessons from the Indian experience", said President Mohamed Nasheed as the Indian envoy here described the country as "perhaps one of India's closest partners". President Nasheed said his country would "continue to get aspirations and lessons from the Indian experience". He said consolidation of democracy, including establishing a rule of law and an independent judiciary, is "our biggest and most important project". Addressing a gathering, the president lauded the Indian "people, its government and its institutions for the very necessary and good assistance they continue to give to the Maldives in our work to become a democratic society". "Very often we have to invent, and invent out of the box," a communique quoted him as saying. The Friendship Association of India-Maldives (FAIM) launched its website Jan 26 to honour India's Republic Day and pledged new opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue. Indian High Commissioner and FAIM patron Dynaneshwar Mulay affirmed close ties between the two nations. "The Maldives is perhaps one of India's closest partners. The Indian High Commission will always be there to help the Maldives." ...
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