Male, February 09: A criminal court in the Maldives has issued an arrest warrant for former President Mohamed Nasheed, who stepped down from power earlier this week but later insisted he had been ousted in a coup.
Police spokesman Abdul Mannan Yusuf refused to disclose the grounds for the warrant issued on Thursday, or when Mr. Nasheed who is living at his home, surrounded by supporters would be arrested.
Rioters had rampaged through the streets of the Maldives capital on Wednesday to demand Mr. Nasheed’s return. The new government of President Mohammed Waheed Hassan insists there was no coup, and that the change in power was legal.
A tense calm settled over the rainy Maldives capital on Thursday.