MALE, Maldives (AP) — The Maldives' new president promised to protect his predecessor from retribution after he stepped down amid protests and clashes between the army and police over his decision to arrest a top judge.
President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, who was sworn in Tuesday, called for chaos on the streets to stop and for citizens of this Indian Ocean island nation to work together after months of political turmoil.
"I urge everyone to make this a peaceful country," he said.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party insisted his ouster was a "coup" engineered by rogue elements of the police and supporters of the country's former autocratic leader.
However, a Nasheed adviser denied the resignation came under duress from the military. The adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said Nasheed was left with two choices: order a bloody military crackdown on the police dissidents or resign.
Hassan's office also denied the military pressured Nasheed to quit in the wake of Tuesday's street clashes.
"It was not a coup at all. It was the wish of the people," said Ahmed Thoufeeg, Hassan's secretary.
Authorities denied Nasheed was under house arrest Wednesday, but said the police and army troops were protecting him at an undisclosed location.
"Mr. Nasheed is protected by the current government because there might be some people wanting to harm him," said police spokesman Ahmed Shyam. "He's in a safe place now, but any other action will be decided by the government."
Nasheed's resignation marked a stunning fall for the former human rights campaigner who defeated the nation's longtime ruler to become its first democratically elected president. Nasheed was also an environmental celebrity, traveling 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. Soon after, the judge was released.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that Hassan had informed the U.S. that the security situation in the Maldives was now under control and generally peaceful.
In a phone call with U.S. officials, Hassan expressed his strong commitment to a peaceful transition of power and the preservation of democracy. According to Nuland, the new Maldivian leader expressed his intent to form a national unity government with opposition participation in the lead-up to a presidential election scheduled for November 2013.
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 in 2008.
"I am happy that the rule of law and justice prevailed," he said.
Amnesty International called for an investigation into the events of recent weeks and insisted that Nasheed not suffer retribution.
The latest protests in this Indian Ocean nation known for its lavish beach resorts erupted after Nasheed ordered the military to arrest Abdulla Mohamed, the chief judge of the Criminal Court. The judge had ordered the release of a government critic he said had been illegally detained.
The critic, opposition leader Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, had been arrested for allegedly defaming the government during a television interview in which he accused Nasheed's government of working against the state religion, Islam, with the support of Christians and Jews. Religious debates have gained prominence in this Sunni Muslim nation of 300,000 people where practicing any other faith is forbidden.
Hassan — then the vice president — the Supreme Court, Human Rights Commission, Judicial Services Commission and the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights had all called for the judge to be released.
Nasheed's government accused the judge of political bias and corruption, said the country's judicial system had failed and called for U.N help to solve the crisis.
The crisis came to a head Tuesday when hundreds of police demonstrated in the capital, Male, after officials ordered them to withdraw protection for government and opposition supporters protesting close to each other. The withdrawal resulted in a clash that injured at least three people.
Later, troops fired rubber bullets and clashed with the police. When Nasheed visited the police and urged them to end the protest, they refused and instead chanted for his resignation. Mohamed was released after Hassan took power.
Nasheed began his term with great hopes, ending Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's 30-year-reign by winning the country's first democratic elections in 2008. Supporters danced and cheered in the streets at the victory of the charismatic pro-democracy activist, who had been repeatedly jailed by Gayoom's regime.
But over the past year, Nasheed was battered by protests. Maldivians demonstrated against soaring prices they blamed on economic reforms he said were needed to bridge the budget deficit. Islamic activists also protested in demand of more religiously conservative policies.
As the protests grew, there were disturbing signs the one-time rights activist was changing.
Police routinely cracked down on opposition protests, while letting government supporters gather freely. For many, the judge's arrest three weeks ago was the final straw.
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Francis reported from Colombo, Sri Lanka. Associated Press writer Desmond Butler in Washington contributed to this report.
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