Male: Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed today announced his resignation following weeks of public protests over his controversial order to arrest a senior judge. Nasheed presented his resignation in a nationally televised address this afternoon after police joined the protesters and then clashed with soldiers in the streets.
"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." Nasheed was expected to hand over power to Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan.
The resignation came after weeks of protests in this Indian Ocean island nation known more for its lavish beach resorts than political turmoil. It marked a stunning crash for Nasheed, a former human rights campaigner who defeated the nation`s longtime ruler in the country`s first multiparty election. Nasheed was also an environmental celebrity, traveling the world to persuade government`s to combat the climate change that could send sea levels rising and inundate his archipelago nation.
Nasheed fell out of public favor after he ordered the military to arrest Abdulla Mohamed, the chief judge of the Criminal Court. The arrest came after the judge ordered the release of a government critic, calling his arrest illegal. The vice president, Supreme Court, Human Rights Commission, Judicial Services Commission and the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have all called for Mohamed to be released. (AP)