Ousted leader of Maldives demands new elections
Source: Agencies |
February 11, 2012, Saturday
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THE former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, yesterday demanded new elections and vowed mass street protests if the new government did not relent, raising the prospect of a protracted crisis on the Indian Ocean islands famed as a beach paradise.
Nasheed was free despite an arrest warrant against him, as diplomats, including a UN envoy, worked to forestall renewed violence.
This follows Nasheed's removal this week, which he said happened at gunpoint in circumstances he described as a coup.
He demanded his successor, President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, step down and hand power to the speaker of the parliament for two months, until a new presidential poll can be called. The next election was due in October 2013.
"Fresh elections are our bottom line and we are not relying on the international community for that, we are relying on the people of the Maldives," Nasheed said.
"The medicine here is on the streets, in strength."
Rain and cooler weather appeared to ease tension a day after the new government issued a warrant against Nasheed, who quickly returned to his roots as a street activist and dared police to arrest him.
But Nasheed said police and military were ransacking Addu atoll, a bastion of his supporters, dragging people out of their homes and beating those belonging to his party.
"We are losing a country as we speak," he said, describing the attack as retaliation. Police said his supporters razed at least 20 government buildings on Wednesday.
Nasheed's defiant tone came as a host of diplomats flew into the archipelago to calm tensions.
He spoke right after meeting an Indian foreign ministry delegation and before meeting UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco.
Nasheed was free despite an arrest warrant against him, as diplomats, including a UN envoy, worked to forestall renewed violence.
This follows Nasheed's removal this week, which he said happened at gunpoint in circumstances he described as a coup.
He demanded his successor, President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, step down and hand power to the speaker of the parliament for two months, until a new presidential poll can be called. The next election was due in October 2013.
"Fresh elections are our bottom line and we are not relying on the international community for that, we are relying on the people of the Maldives," Nasheed said.
"The medicine here is on the streets, in strength."
Rain and cooler weather appeared to ease tension a day after the new government issued a warrant against Nasheed, who quickly returned to his roots as a street activist and dared police to arrest him.
But Nasheed said police and military were ransacking Addu atoll, a bastion of his supporters, dragging people out of their homes and beating those belonging to his party.
"We are losing a country as we speak," he said, describing the attack as retaliation. Police said his supporters razed at least 20 government buildings on Wednesday.
Nasheed's defiant tone came as a host of diplomats flew into the archipelago to calm tensions.
He spoke right after meeting an Indian foreign ministry delegation and before meeting UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco.
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