Nasheed non-unity stance set in stone, calls for civil disobedience

Speaking to his supporters at last night's public rally of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), ex-President Mohamed Nasheed called Maldivians to civil disobedience if the new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan does not resign for an early election.

Despite Nasheed’s continous calls for early elections, President Mohammed Waheed Hassan Manik rejected the calls for snap elections as a way of resolving a political stand-off. Maldives' next presidential election is scheduled for next year.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake said Saturday that the police, elections commission and the judiciary were not sufficiently prepared for a free and fair election.

Meanwhile, on last Wednesday Nasheed’s supporters, within a few hours of protest against President Waheed, ransacked and torched over 19 police stations, 8 courthouses, police training facilities and accommodation houses, numerous police vehicles and over 20 private houses and business establishments. They injured several police officers and threatened members of the public who were felt to be non-supporters of Nasheed. Schools, and several shops and businesses have been closed on the islands of Nasheed strongholds from the day of the Nasheed protest, February 8th.