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February 10, 2012

Maldives: Ousted Pres. Nasheed Leads Rally, Calls for Elections 
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In the Maldives, ousted President Mohamed Nasheed is calling for his
successor to step down and for new elections to be held following what
he has described as an armed coup earlier this week. Nasheed said he was
forced to resign at gunpoint and blamed the coup on allies of Maumoon
Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the Maldvies for 30 years before Nasheed became
its first democratically elected president in 2008. Despite a warrant
for his arrest, Nasheed has led hundreds of supporters in a rally
through the streets of the capital city Male. A backer of Nasheed said
protesters will defend the ousted president.

Ali Malik: "We are here because we got news saying that the police is
going to come and pick our president. So that is why we here."
(Reporter's question: "What will you do if they come?") "We will protest
and we will follow his orders."



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