Male, Feb 8 (AP) The Maldives' new president promised to protect his predecessor from retribution after he stepped down amid protests and clashes between the army and police over his decision to arrest a top judge. President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, who was sworn in yesterday, called for chaos on the streets to stop and for citizens of this Indian Ocean island nation to work together after months of political turmoil. "I urge everyone to make this a peaceful country," he said. Former President Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party insisted his ouster was a "coup" engineered by rogue elements of the police and supporters of the country's former autocratic leader. However, a Nasheed adviser denied the resignation came under duress from the military. The adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said Nasheed was left with two choices: order a bloody military crackdown on the police dissidents or resign. Hassan's office also denied the military pressured Nasheed to quit in the wake of yesterday's street clashes. "It was not a coup at all. It was the wish of the people," said Ahmed Thoufeeg, Hassan's secretary. Authorities denied Nasheed was under house arrest today, but said the police and army troops were protecting him at an undisclosed location. "Nasheed is protected by the current government because there might be some people wanting to harm him," said police spokesman Ahmed Shyam. "He's in a safe place now, but any other action will be decided by the government." (AP)
