The first democratically elected president of the Maldives, Mohammad Nasheed, lived up to his democratic credentials when he stepped down in the face of protests and a ‘mutiny' by some police and army officers. In doing so, Nasheed ensured that innocent blood was not spilt and people within the country did not fight among themselves.
The jury may still be deliberating whether he stepped down on his own, or was forced to sign on the dotted line, but for now there is a new president who is trying to get his cabinet in order.
Nasheed fears his successor had a role in the whole episode and has called on the chief justice to investigate those responsible for his ouster. His order to the military to arrest a judge, whom he accused of blocking corruption cases against members of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's government, set off three weeks of opposition protests that peaked with the police revolt.
But rather than clinging on to power or even allowing events to drift towards a showdown, Nasheed has shown loyalty to democratic principles by stepping down from office with grace.
