Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that he was threatened and forced to resign by armed Police and military.
In an interview with AFP President Nasheed called yesterday’s events a coup d'etat, and said that current President Dr Waheed was involved it’s planning. AFP reports the former President saying in the telephone interview that about 18 Officers were observed to have taken full control of everything when he visited the MNDF Headquarters yesterday morning.
“They threatened to use their weapons if I did not resign. I understood this as seriously dangerous,” Nasheed told AFP.
AFP reported that Nasheed agreed to the military’s terms for the sake of people’s lives. Nasheed also said that current President Dr Waheed was always hungry for power, but never had the chance of being the country’s leader. The coup d'etat was organised by opposition parties and led by the party headed by Nasheed’s predecessor and former President Gayoom, according to Nasheed.
Former President Nasheed resigned yesterday following a protest by the Police who refused to obey illegal orders. Nasheed deployed the military to bring the situation under control, but failed as several members of the military ended up siding with the Police.
However in the press statement made by Nasheed yesterday to announce his resignation, he said, “I am resigning from the post of the President of Maldives, because I foresee several damages being done to the country and its people if I remain in power.”