Maldives president calls for unity govt

The new president of the Maldives called on Wednesday for the formation of a national unity government in the Indian Ocean nation even as police and soldiers kept watch over his predecessor at an undisclosed location.

President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, the former vice-president, was sworn in on Tuesday when Mohamed Nasheed, the ex-president, resigned after police joined widening street protests against his government.

Addressing a news conference on Wednesday, Hassan denied claims he was behind a plot to oust Nasheed. He said he had not prepared to take over the country and he called for the creation of a unity coalition.

"Together, I am confident, we'll be able to build a stable and democratic country," he said, adding that his government intended to respect the rule of law.

Hassan, who had promised to protect Nasheed from retribution, said his predecessor was not under any restriction and was free to leave the country.

However, he said he would not interfere with any police or court action against Nasheed.

Police were investigating the discovery of at least 100 bottles of alcohol inside a truck removing garbage on Tuesday from the presidential residence as Nasheed prepared to relinquish power, the police spokesman Ahmed Shyam said. Consuming alcohol outside tourist resorts is a crime in this Muslim nation.

Authorities said Nasheed was under police and army watch at an undisclosed location on Wednesday, but denied he was under house arrest. "Mr Nasheed is protected by the current government because there might be some people wanting to harm him," Shyam said.

But Nasheed said on Wednesday he was forced to step down at gunpoint and urged his successor to step down.

"Yes, I was forced to resign at gunpoint," Nasheed told reporters after his party meeting a day after his resignation. "There were guns all around me and they told me they wouldn't hesitate to use them if I didn't resign.