Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed Resigns: Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan sworn in

The president of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed resigned on Tuesday and was replaced by his vice president, after the police and army clashed in the streets of the island nation, amid protests over the arrest of a top judge.

Mohammed Waheed Hassan, the vice president was sworn in as the new Maldivian president in the afternoon. Soon after, the judge was released.

Nasheed presented his resignation in a nationally televised address on Tuesday afternoon, after police joined the protesters and then clashed with soldiers in the streets. Some of the soldiers then defected to the police side.

"I don't want to hurt any Maldivian. I feel my staying on in power will only increase the problems, and it will hurt our citizens," Nasheed said. "So the best option available to me is to step down."

Maldivians waving flags poured into the streets to celebrate Nasheed's resignation. Some playfully threw water at each other.

Mohammed Waheed Hassan's office denied widespread reports that the military pressured Nasheed to resign in the wake of the clashes.

"It was not a coup at all, it was the wish of the people," said Ahmed Thoufeeg, Hassan's secretary.

An advisor for Nasheed, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, also dismissed claims the resignation came under duress from the military.

The adviser said Nasheed was left with two choices: order a bloody military crackdown on the police dissidents or resign.

The latest protests in this Indian Ocean nation known for its lavish beach resorts erupted after Nasheed ordered the military to arrest Abdulla Mohamed, the chief judge of the Criminal Court. The judge had ordered the release of a government critic he said had been illegally detained.

Hassan then the vice president the Supreme Court, Human Rights Commission, Judicial Services Commission and the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights all called for Mohamed to be released.

Nasheed's government accused the judge of political bias and corruption, said the country's judicial system had failed and called for U.N help to solve the crisis.

The crisis came to a head Tuesday when hundreds of police demonstrated in the capital, Male, after officials ordered them to withdraw protection for government and opposition supporters protesting close to each other. The withdrawal resulted in a clash that injured at least three people.

Later, troops fired rubber bullets and clashed with the police. When Nasheed visited the police and urged them to end the protest, they refused and instead chanted for his resignation. Mohamed was released after Hassan took power.

Nasheed began his term with great hopes, ending Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's 30-year-reign by winning the country's first democratic elections in 2008. Supporters danced and cheered in the streets at the victory of the charismatic pro-democracy activist, who had been repeatedly jailed by Gayoom's regime.

- Asian Tribune –

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