Maldives leader quits after police mutiny

Male: The first democratically elected president of the Maldives resigned yesterday and was replaced by his vice-president after a mutiny by the police and weeks of demonstrations over the arrest of a top judge.

Mohammad Waheed Hassan, who previously worked as a top Unicef official, was sworn in as the new Maldivian president in the afternoon.

Soon after, the judge was released.

In a televised address, Hassan promised to protect his predecessor, Mohammad Nasheed, from retribution and called for the chaos in the streets to stop.

"I urge everyone to make this a peaceful country," he said. Nasheed's resignation marked a stunning fall for the former human rights campaigner who defeated the nation's longtime ruler in the country's first multiparty election.

Nasheed was also an environmental celebrity, travelling the world to persuade governments to combat the climate change that could raise sea levels and inundate his archipelago nation.

Nasheed presented his resignation in a nationally televised address 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.

Long overdue change

"This is a change which was long overdue. The country has lost its Islamic values and economy," government worker Mohammad Muthalib said. "Corruption is very high and this has affected the economy."

Hassan Saeed, a former attorney general and Nasheed ally, hoped that Nasheed's resignation ends political bickering that has become a hallmark since the country became a multiparty democracy.

"I am happy that the rule of law and justice prevailed," he said.