Nasheed swept to victory in , pledging to bring full democracy to the luxury holiday resort nation and speaking out passionately on the dangers of climate change to the low-lying islands. But he drew opposition fire for his arrest of a judge he accused of being in the pocket of Gayoom, who ruled for 30 years. Protests at the arrest set off a constitutional crisis that had Nasheed in the unaccustomed position of defending himself against accusations of acting like a dictator.
Gayoom's opposition Progressive Party of the Maldives accused the military of firing rubber bullets at protesters and a party spokesman, Mohamed Hussain "Mundhu" Shareef, said "loads of people" were injured. He gave no specifics. An official close to the president denied the government had used rubber bullets, but confirmed that about three dozen police officers defied orders overnight and attacked a ruling party facility.
The protests, and the scramble for position ahead of next year's presidential election, have seen parties adopting hardline Islamist rhetoric and accusing Nasheed of being anti-Islamic. The trouble has also shown the longstanding rivalry between Gayoom and Nasheed, who was jailed in all for six years after being arrested 27 times by Gayoom's government while agitating for democracy.
Earlier in Male, several hundred thousand supporters of the president had clashed with police, AFP reported. Chief Inspector Abdul Mannan Yoosuf was quoted as telling reporters that police were planning a joint operation with the military to restore order.
More from GlobalPost: Maldives president resigns amid crisis. Nasheed's aides have backed up his account of his ouster, saying that more than 50 soldiers arrived at the presidential office and surrounded Nasheed, who promptly called a press conference to announce his resignation.
Nasheed called the alleged plot a "coup" and called for the chief justice to investigate. Foreign governments are advising those visiting the islands to be careful. The archipelago receives nearly a million visitors a year - but most head straight to their resorts and never reach the capital.
Fall from grace for democratic crusader. Resignation: Views from Maldives. In pictures: Maldives unrest. New Maldives leader pledges order. Maldives UN appeal in judge row. Image source, AP. Dozens were injured in clashes as protests were held in support of the former president.
Mr Nasheed quit on Tuesday amid unrest. Image source, AFP. The new president denies he is part of a conspiracy. Published 8 February Download the France 24 app. The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore. ON TV. On social media. Who are we? Fight the Fake. Daily newsletter Receive essential international news every morning Subscribe. Page not found.
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