World | Other World Stories
Maldives swears in former prisoner as president
Former political prisoner Mohamed Nasheed was sworn in as president of Maldives on Tuesday.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:01 November 11, 2008
Male: A former political prisoner was sworn in as president of Maldives on Tuesday.
"No other citizens in the world in modern times have changed a 30-year-old regime so peacefully. I congratulate the Maldivian citizens," Mohamed Nasheed said shortly before signing his presidential oath in parliament.
Nasheed defeated Asia's longest-serving ruler, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, in the first multiparty election on October 28 with 54.2 per cent of the votes.
Gayoom had repeatedly jailed Nasheed on what rights groups say were trumped-up charges. Critics accuse Gayoom of running the islands like his personal sultanate.
Nasheed has pledged a host of reforms, including privatising state enterprises and turning the islands into a model of renewable energy through widespread use of solar power.
More from Other World Stories
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Allies quit ruling coalition in Nepal
Political row could trigger months of street protests and violence
-
Qatar blaze 'started at nursery'
Fire killed 19 including 13 children, at Doha’s main shopping centre
-
Jagan jailed over illegal assets
Andhra Pradesh leader accused of corruption, cheating, conspiracy
