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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Maldives court 'arrest warrant' for Mohamed Nasheed | Maldives court 'arrest warrant' for Mohamed Nasheed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A criminal court in the Maldives has issued an arrest warrant for former President Mohamed Nasheed, officials from his party say. | A criminal court in the Maldives has issued an arrest warrant for former President Mohamed Nasheed, officials from his party say. |
| The report comes a day after Mr Nasheed was among dozens injured in Male when riot police used tear gas against protesters as unrest intensified. | The report comes a day after Mr Nasheed was among dozens injured in Male when riot police used tear gas against protesters as unrest intensified. |
| Mr Nasheed resigned on Tuesday amid protests over his rule. He says he was forced to resign by security forces. | Mr Nasheed resigned on Tuesday amid protests over his rule. He says he was forced to resign by security forces. |
| It is unclear what the charges against the former president might be. | It is unclear what the charges against the former president might be. |
| Senior officials in Mr Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) say there is also a warrant for the arrest of his former defence minister, Tholhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu. | Senior officials in Mr Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) say there is also a warrant for the arrest of his former defence minister, Tholhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu. |
| There are reports, too, that the family of Mr Nasheed have fled to neighbouring Sri Lanka. A spokesman for the Sri Lankan president told AFP that Mr Nasheed's wife and daughter had arrived in Colombo. | There are reports, too, that the family of Mr Nasheed have fled to neighbouring Sri Lanka. A spokesman for the Sri Lankan president told AFP that Mr Nasheed's wife and daughter had arrived in Colombo. |
| Safety concerns | Safety concerns |
| Mr Nasheed is at his residence talking to the media. Thousands of supporters have also gathered there. It is not clear when he might be arrested, but MDP officials said security forces were on their way to arrest him. | Mr Nasheed is at his residence talking to the media. Thousands of supporters have also gathered there. It is not clear when he might be arrested, but MDP officials said security forces were on their way to arrest him. |
| The BBC's Andrew North, who is also at the residence, reports that Mr Nasheed has said he is worried about his safety. | The BBC's Andrew North, who is also at the residence, reports that Mr Nasheed has said he is worried about his safety. |
| The UK's High Commissioner to the Maldives, John Rankin, has expressed his concern that no harm comes to Mr Nasheed. | The UK's High Commissioner to the Maldives, John Rankin, has expressed his concern that no harm comes to Mr Nasheed. |
| "It would be a matter of serious concern for us and the international community if it did," Mr Rankin said. | |
| Security forces have also been deployed to the Maldives' second-largest city of Addu, where there have been reports of more violence. | Security forces have also been deployed to the Maldives' second-largest city of Addu, where there have been reports of more violence. |
| On Wednesday several thousand Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters, led by Mr Nasheed, marched through the streets of the capital in protest at his ousting. | On Wednesday several thousand Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters, led by Mr Nasheed, marched through the streets of the capital in protest at his ousting. |
| The violence spread to outlying islands, where there were reports that several police stations had been overrun by supporters of Mr Nasheed. | The violence spread to outlying islands, where there were reports that several police stations had been overrun by supporters of Mr Nasheed. |
| That night, police said on state television that the protests led by Mr Nasheed were "an act of terrorism". | That night, police said on state television that the protests led by Mr Nasheed were "an act of terrorism". |
| But Amnesty International has issued a statement saying that Maldivian security forces attacked supporters of Mr Nasheed during the demonstrations and also failed to protect them from counter-demonstrators. | But Amnesty International has issued a statement saying that Maldivian security forces attacked supporters of Mr Nasheed during the demonstrations and also failed to protect them from counter-demonstrators. |
| Coup claims | |
| Mr Nasheed alleges that on Tuesday 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 his former deputy Mohammed Waheed Hassan Manik, who has replaced him. | |
| Mr Hassan denies the claims and says his aim now was to form a coalition to help restore stability ahead of fresh presidential elections due next year. The army also denies Mr Nasheed's version of events. | |
| Tensions in the Maldives escalated weeks ago after the government ordered the arrest of a senior judge in the Maldives criminal court. | |
| Protests over the arrest of the judge are widely seen as having hastened the downfall of Mr Nasheed. The judge was released soon after Mr Hassan took power. | |
| 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 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Are you in the Maldives? Have you witnessed the demonstrations? Send us your stories using the form below. |