Male calm as new president readies national government

Irish Sun (IANS) Wednesday 8th February, 2012

Maldives' new President Mohamed Waheed said he would form an all-party national unity government Wednesday, the day calm returned to the capital after weeks of protests that culminated in Mohamed Nasheed stepping down as head of state.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hoped that the shift in power will help quell the tensions the island country has experienced, while India assured Waheed of its continued support to the country.

The Republic Square in capital Male was calm and quiet Wednesday morning with families walking around and chattering about at the very location where weeks of demonstrations for ouster of Mohamed Nasheed, the first democratically elected president in the archipelago, took place.

The protests erupted with Nasheed's order to arrest a top judge. Nasheed announced his resignation Tuesday and on the same day, Waheed, a former top Unicef official, took oath as the president.

The island nation, a paradise holiday destination renowned for its pristine white sand beaches, turquoise waters and high-end luxury, experienced a spate of protests which culminated in a clash between troops and police who joined the protesters against the president.

Waheed, appearing before media for the first time Wednesday at the President's House since assuming office Tuesday, said discussions were under way to form a national unity government, reported Xinhua.

"I will work with the spirit of coalition with various partners of the country. Together with them, we will be able to build a stable democratic country that respects individual freedom foremost (and) respects and upholds (the) constitution that guarantees the bill of rights for our people," said Waheed.

"I am in consultation with all the major political parties. I have had several meetings with them, including president of MDP," he added. Nasheed helped establish the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Waheed, who was vice president in Nasheed's administration, is to continue as the president till the next presidential election in 2013.

The UN and India, among others, hoped for peace in the Maldives.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed "strong hope" that a shift in power in the Maldives will help quell the violence and tensions the island country has experienced of late, said a UN statement released here Tuesday.

"The secretary general expresses his strong hope that this handover of power, which has been announced as a constitutional step to avoid further violence and instability, will lead to the peaceful resolution of the political crisis that has polarized the country in recent months," Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.

In the statement, Ban called on the people of the Maldives to peacefully deal with sources of tension.

"The United Nations will remain a close partner of the Maldives and will continue to extend its support in the period ahead," the statement noted.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrote to Waheed assuring him of India's continued support after the dramatic regime change in the archipelago.

India was committed to working with the Maldives for the "security and prosperity" of both the countries, Manmohan Singh said in his felicitation letter to Waheed.

He said India as a close and friendly neighbour would continue to support the Maldivian people's efforts to build a "stable, peaceful and prosperous country".

In 1988, India had responded to a call by then president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to help quell an externally-induced coup attempt by merceanries from Sri Lanka.