Maldives Islands President resigns

Maldives President, Mohammed Nasheed

Maldives Islands President resigns

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has resigned after weeks of demonstrations and a mutiny by some police officers.

Vice-President Waheed Hassan was sworn in as president after Mr Nasheed quit.

Mr Nasheed is being held against his will by security forces at the presidential palace in the capital.
Tensions escalated after the Maldives army arrested a senior judge last month, prompting bitter street protests in the Indian Ocean island chain.

The former president said “ I don't want to run the country with an iron fist - I am resigning”.

Announcing his resignation on state television, Mr Nasheed said it would be "better for the country in the current situation" if he stood down.

Mr Nasheed announced his resignation during a televised news conference.

"It will be better for the country in the current situation if I resign. I don't want to run the country with an iron fist. I am resigning," Mr Nasheed said.

BBC/Ugo