Maldives military says President Mohamed Nasheed has resigned amid public protests The USA Times

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Maldives military says President Mohamed Nasheed has resigned amid public protests

(AP Photo/Sinan Hussain)

MALE, Maldives - Vice president Mohammed Waheed Hassan has taken an oath to be Maldives president after his predecessor Mohamed Nasheed resigned after weeks of protests.

Nasheed was the country's first democratically elected president but resigned Tuesday after the police and army clashed in the streets of the island nation. The escalating protests were over his controversial arrest of a top judge.

Waheed previously worked for the United Nations and led its children's fund in Afghanistan. He is scheduled to speak shortly.