Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed
As the political turmoil in Maldives continues to grow, ousted president Mohamed Nasheed alleged that he was forced to step down at gunpoint. Insisting that it was a coup, Mr Nasheed said, "I was forced to resign with guns all around me. They told me, if I don't resign, they won't hesitate to use arms."
Speaking to about 2,000 wildly cheering members of his Maldivian Democratic Party in the capital, Male, he called for his successor President Mohammed Waheed Hassan's immediate resignation and demanded the nation's top judge investigate those he said were responsible for his ouster. The party declared it would not join Mr Hassan's planned coalition.
"We will come to power again," Mr Nasheed said. "We will never step back. I will not accept this coup and will bring justice to the Maldivians."
Mr Nasheed's supporters then led an anti-government demonstration and the police responded with tear gas. Police also arrested two parliamentarians from Mr Nasheed's party.
"If the police are going to confront us we are going to face them," Mr Nasheed told the rally. "We have to overcome our fear and we have to get strength."
Reeko Moosa Manik, a lawmaker and chairman of the party, was beaten unconscious by police and hospitalized, said his son Mudrikath Moosa. Nasheed and other lawmakers were beaten as well, he said.
The military has, however, denied that it forced Nasheed to resign at gunpoint. "There is no officer in the military that would point a gun towards the president," said Brigadier General Ibrahim Didi.
"The military did not call for his resignation, he resigned voluntarily," Didi said, adding that the military is trying to bring peace to troubled areas quickly.
The camp of the ousted president has also said that India was asked to intervene militarily in the deepening crisis.
Speaking to NDTV, Paul Roberts, the former advisor to Mr Nasheed, said, "India needs to get off the fence...India needs to decide who it supports."
Meanwhile, Mr Hassan, the former vice president, took office on Tuesday when Mr Nasheed resigned after police joined widening street protests against his government. Addressing a news conference today, Mr Hassan denied claims there was a plot to oust Mr Nasheed. He said he had not prepared to take over the country and he called for the creation of a unity coalition to help it recover. "Together, I am confident, we'll be able to build a stable and democratic country," he said, adding that his government intended to respect the rule of law. Later in the day, he appeared to be consolidating his power by appointing a new military chief and police commissioner.
Mr Hassan, who had promised to protect Mr Nasheed from retribution, said his predecessor was not under any restriction and was free to leave the country. However, he said he would not interfere with any police or court action against Mr Nasheed.
Police were investigating the discovery of at least 100 bottles of alcohol inside a truck removing garbage on Tuesday from the presidential residence as Mr Nasheed prepared to relinquish power, said police spokesman Ahmed Shyam. Consuming alcohol outside tourist resorts is a crime in this Muslim nation. If charged and convicted of possession of alcohol, Mr Nasheed could be sent to jail for three years, banished to a distant island, placed under house arrest or fined.