Police mutiny forces president to resign

who wishes to rule with the use of power,” he said in a televised address.
“I believe that if the government were to remain in power it would require the use force which would harm many citizens.”
Nasheed swept to victory in 2008, pledging to bring full democracy to the luxury holiday resort nation, but drew opposition fire for his arrest of a judge he accused of being in the pocket of his predecessor, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled for 30 years.
Mutinying police took over the state broadcaster and issued an opposition-linked station’s calls for people to come on the streets to overthrow Nasheed.
Protests began weeks ago after Nasheed ordered the military to arrest the top criminal court judge, whom he accuses of being in the pocket of Gayoom.
That set off a constitutional crisis that had Nasheed in the unaccustomed position of defending himself of acting like a dictator.
“I resign because I believe that if the government continues to stay in power, it is very likely that we may face foreign influences,” he said, without giving details.
The trouble has been largely invisible to the 900 000 or so well-heeled tourists who come every year to visit desert islands swathed in aquamarine seas, ringed by white-sand beaches.
Most tourists are whisked straight to their island hideaway by seaplane or speedboat, where they are free to drink alcohol and get luxurious spa treatments, insulated from the everyday Maldives, a fully Islamic state where alcohol is outlawed and skimpy beachwear frowned upon. – Reuters.