New Maldives president calls for calm after clash

MALE, Maldives — Maldives' new president promised to protect his predecessor from retribution after he stepped down amid protests and disunity among the army and police over his decision to arrest a top judge.

President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, who was sworn in Tuesday, also called for chaos on the streets to stop. His office denied widespread reports that the military pressured Mohamed Nasheed to resign in the wake of Tuesday's street clashes.

"It was not a coup at all. It was the wish of the people," said Ahmed Thoufeeg, Hassan's secretary.

Nasheed's resignation marked a stunning fall for the former human rights campaigner who defeated the nation's longtime ruler to become its first democratically elected president. Nasheed was also an environmental celebrity, traveling the world to persuade governments to combat the climate change that could raise sea levels and inundate his archipelago nation.

Nasheed presented his resignation in a nationally televised address after police joined the protesters and then clashed with soldiers in the streets. Some of the soldiers then defected to the police side.

"I don't want to hurt any Maldivian. I feel my staying on in power will only increase the problems, and it will hurt our citizens," Nasheed said. "So the best option available to me is to step down."

Maldivians waving flags poured into the streets to celebrate Nasheed's resignation. Some playfully threw water at each other. Soon after, the judge was released.

Hassan called for calm, while vowing to protect Nasheed.

"I urge everyone to make this a peaceful country," he said.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that Hassan had informed the U.S. that the security situation in the Maldives was now under control and generally peaceful.

In a phone call with U.S. officials, Hassan expressed his strong commitment to a peaceful transition of power and the preservation of democracy. According to Nuland, the new Maldivian leader expressed his intent to form a national unity government with opposition participation in the lead-up to a presidential election scheduled for November 2013.

Hassan Saeed, a former attorney general and Nasheed ally, hoped that Nasheed's resignation ends political bickering that has become a hallmark since the country became a multiparty democracy.

"I am happy that the rule of law and justice prevailed," he said.