Nasheed, speaking to AFP by telephone from the capital, said he had gone to military headquarters on Tuesday where he found about 18 "middle-ranking" police and army officers in control. "They told me if I didn't resign they would resort to use arms," he said. "I took it as a threat. I wanted to negotiate the lives of the people who were serving in my government." He added that he feared his "vice president was in on it" referring to Mohamed Waheed, who was sworn in as head of state on Tuesday. "I am afraid he's always entertained an idea to become the president. He's never been able to do that. When the opportunity was available to him, he took it," the 44-year-old said, speaking from a family property. Waheed, a former UN worker and parliamentarian, denied any involvement in a "coup" on Wednesday and said he would ensure the rule of law is upheld. The army denies they toppled Nasheed. Nasheed's resignation came after a small band of policemen mutinied on Tuesday morning and refused to obey an order to break up an anti-government protest where demonstrators were demanding the president step down. The officers then took over state television.