Exclusive: Cops forced Nasheed to quit presidency, says family

Sources close to Nasheed’s family told Firstpost that the president was forced to resign today, by the mutineering Police. He had essentially lost control of the country’s armed forces. When he went to the Presidential office today, he was taken to the police station and was asked to resign or go into custody. He had no other option but to resign.[caption id=“attachment_206311” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed. AP”]  [/caption] The source said that at the moment he is “packing up” to leave the presidential palace. His family is concerned about his safety although he spoke to them and assured that he is safe and will be home later tonight. The ascendance of the present vice president to presidentship was part of a deal that former president Mammon Abdul Gayoom had brokered with Nasheed’s party colleagues. The present unrest that led to Nasheed’s ouster has been simmering in the island nation ever since he came to power. The family sources also said his stepping down is a victory for the hardliners. Family sources also said that they suspect that there would be pressure on him and his family to leave the country, but in all probability he would not leave. He has a tough political past of several rounds of imprisonment, torture and criminal cases. He is also a recipient of several international awards, a mascot of the international movement against global warming and a darling of the international media. Interestingly, India, which had been sympathetic to both Gayoom and Nasheed took a non-partisan stand on his resignation. Sources close to Nasheed said India’s strategic interest, which also saw the construction of an airport by an Indian conglomerate in the island, will ensure that they don’t oppose this coup.