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Maldives ex-president Mohamed Nasheed was 'forced out' Maldives ex-president Mohamed Nasheed was 'forced out'
(about 1 hour later)
Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has said that he was forced to resign "at gunpoint" by police and army officers in a coup. Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has said that he was forced to resign "at gunpoint" by police and army officers in a coup.
He said the move was planned with the knowledge of vice president Mohammed Waheed Hassan, the man who has replaced him. Mr Hassan denies the claims. He said the move was planned with the knowledge of Vice-President Mohammed Waheed Hassan Manik, who has replaced him. Mr Hassan denies the claims.
Security forces have made a number of arrests after clashes with supporters of Mr Nasheed in Male. Several of Mr Nasheed's supporters were injured in clashes as riot police used tear gas and batons against demonstrators in Republic Square.
He quit after police joined protests over the removal of a top judge. Mr Nasheed quit on Tuesday amid unrest.
Several thousand Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters, led by Mr Nasheed, had marched through the streets of the capital in protest at his ousting. He announced his resignation after police joined opposition-led protests over the detention of a top judge.
The BBC's Andrew North, in Male, says soldiers in riot gear and police baton charged the crowd and fired tear gas. The main square is now blocked off by soldiers and police. Several thousand Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters, led by Mr Nasheed, marched through the streets of the capital earlier on Wednesday in protest at his ousting.
The BBC's Andrew North, in Male, says soldiers in riot gear and police with batons charged the crowd and fired tear gas. The main square is now blocked off by soldiers and police.
It's been a bewildering 24 hours in paradise, after the coup that was not a coup - depending on which side you're on.It's been a bewildering 24 hours in paradise, after the coup that was not a coup - depending on which side you're on.
The man who was vice-president yesterday calmly held a news conference today in the air-conditioned presidential palace looking like he'd been in the top job for years. There was no coup, no plan, said Mohammed Waheed Hassan smoothly, wearing a freshly-pressed suit - I'm as surprised as you are but democracy is safe, he insisted.The man who was vice-president yesterday calmly held a news conference today in the air-conditioned presidential palace looking like he'd been in the top job for years. There was no coup, no plan, said Mohammed Waheed Hassan smoothly, wearing a freshly-pressed suit - I'm as surprised as you are but democracy is safe, he insisted.
Across town, furious supporters of his boss until yesterday, Mohammed Nasheed, gathered at his party headquarters. No air-conditioning here. Across town, furious supporters of his boss until yesterday, Mohamed Nasheed, gathered at his party headquarters. No air-conditioning here.
Sweltering in the equatorial heat, they crammed into a meeting hall to hear the former president say he'd been forced to resign at gunpoint and would fight to get his job back. Mr Nasheed's supporters believe the police helped engineer his removal.Sweltering in the equatorial heat, they crammed into a meeting hall to hear the former president say he'd been forced to resign at gunpoint and would fight to get his job back. Mr Nasheed's supporters believe the police helped engineer his removal.
Here in paradise, the trouble may not be over.Here in paradise, the trouble may not be over.
Those detained include one of the former president's senior officials, our correspondent says. Other reports say MDP supporters threw petrol bombs at police and demanded Mr Nasheed be reinstated.Those detained include one of the former president's senior officials, our correspondent says. Other reports say MDP supporters threw petrol bombs at police and demanded Mr Nasheed be reinstated.
The head of the youth wing for the former ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Shauna Aminath, said she was part of a crowd of protesters near Republic Square when riot police charged at them.
"The police here are animals. It was peaceful.. and then the police came straight at us. So many people have been injured," she told the BBC.
The streets had been calm since Tuesday's dramatic resignation and life had appeared to be returning to normal after clashes and protests earlier in the week.The streets had been calm since Tuesday's dramatic resignation and life had appeared to be returning to normal after clashes and protests earlier in the week.
'Guns all around me''Guns all around me'
Mr Nasheed's whereabouts over the past 24 hours have been unclear at times and his aides have alleged he was being held against his will.Mr Nasheed's whereabouts over the past 24 hours have been unclear at times and his aides have alleged he was being held against his will.
But on Wednesday, the Maldives first democratically elected president met party supporters and told them he would fight to get his job back. He urged Mr Hassan to stand down and called for immediate elections.But on Wednesday, the Maldives first democratically elected president met party supporters and told them he would fight to get his job back. He urged Mr Hassan to stand down and called for immediate elections.
"Yes, I was forced to resign at gunpoint," he told reporters after the meeting. "There were guns all around me and they told me they wouldn't hesitate to use them if I didn't resign.""Yes, I was forced to resign at gunpoint," he told reporters after the meeting. "There were guns all around me and they told me they wouldn't hesitate to use them if I didn't resign."
He told the AFP news agency in a telephone interview that he had gone to military headquarters on Tuesday where he found about 18 "middle-ranking" police and army officers in control.He told the AFP news agency in a telephone interview that he had gone to military headquarters on Tuesday where he found about 18 "middle-ranking" police and army officers in control.
"I wanted to negotiate the lives of the people who were serving in my government.""I wanted to negotiate the lives of the people who were serving in my government."
He added that he feared Mr Hassan - formerly his vice president - was "in on" their plans.He added that he feared Mr Hassan - formerly his vice president - was "in on" their plans.
The new president in turn criticised Mr Nasheed for wrongfully arresting Justice Abdulla Mohamed last month.The new president in turn criticised Mr Nasheed for wrongfully arresting Justice Abdulla Mohamed last month.
He denies a coup took place or that there was a pre-arranged plan for him to stage a takeover. Mr Hassan said his aim now was to form a coalition to help build a stable and democratic country ahead of fresh presidential elections due next year.He denies a coup took place or that there was a pre-arranged plan for him to stage a takeover. Mr Hassan said his aim now was to form a coalition to help build a stable and democratic country ahead of fresh presidential elections due next year.
"We will respect the rule of law, we will uphold the constitution, the executive will not interfere in legislation and we will make sure that democracy is consolidated," he told a news conference on Wednesday."We will respect the rule of law, we will uphold the constitution, the executive will not interfere in legislation and we will make sure that democracy is consolidated," he told a news conference on Wednesday.
He also promised to protect Mr Nasheed from retribution, pointing out that he was free to leave the country.He also promised to protect Mr Nasheed from retribution, pointing out that he was free to leave the country.
However he said he would not interfere with any police or court action against Mr Nasheed.However he said he would not interfere with any police or court action against Mr Nasheed.
The authorities are reported to be investigating the discovery of bottles of alcohol at Mr Nasheed's former residence. Consuming alcohol outside tourist resorts is a crime in the Muslim nation.The authorities are reported to be investigating the discovery of bottles of alcohol at Mr Nasheed's former residence. Consuming alcohol outside tourist resorts is a crime in the Muslim nation.
'Rogue elements''Rogue elements'
Protests over the arrest of Justice Mohamed are widely seen has having hastened the downfall of Mr Nasheed, who critics say acted unconstitutionally.Protests over the arrest of Justice Mohamed are widely seen has having hastened the downfall of Mr Nasheed, who critics say acted unconstitutionally.
The judge was released soon after Mr Hassan took power.The judge was released soon after Mr Hassan took power.
The judge was accused of being loyal to the opposition by ordering the release of a government critic he said had been illegally detained.The judge was accused of being loyal to the opposition by ordering the release of a government critic he said had been illegally detained.
Hours before Mr Nasheed's resignation, there had been a mutiny in police ranks which saw a few dozen officers side with protesters and then clash with soldiers in the streets.Hours before Mr Nasheed's resignation, there had been a mutiny in police ranks which saw a few dozen officers side with protesters and then clash with soldiers in the streets.
The mutinying officers took control of the state broadcaster in the capital, Male, and began playing out messages in support of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, an autocrat who ruled for more than 30 years.The mutinying officers took control of the state broadcaster in the capital, Male, and began playing out messages in support of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, an autocrat who ruled for more than 30 years.
Mr Nasheed, a former political prisoner, defeated him in the country's first multi-party elections in 2008.Mr Nasheed, a former political prisoner, defeated him in the country's first multi-party elections in 2008.
British, US and Australian diplomats have flown in from neighbouring Sri Lanka to provide consular assistance, if needed, to tourists holidaying in the Maldives.British, US and Australian diplomats have flown in from neighbouring Sri Lanka to provide consular assistance, if needed, to tourists holidaying in the Maldives.
Foreign governments are advising those visiting the islands to be careful. The archipelago receives nearly a million visitors a year - but most head straight to their resorts and never reach the capital.Foreign governments are advising those visiting the islands to be careful. The archipelago receives nearly a million visitors a year - but most head straight to their resorts and never reach the capital.