Former Maldives president criticizes US

MALE, Maldives — The former head of the Maldives criticized the United States on Friday for recognizing the Indian Ocean nation's new government, which he says came to power in a coup.

The Maldives has faced one day of rioting and two days more of a political standoff since Mohamed Nasheed announced Tuesday that he was resigning as president, following months of protests against his rule and fading support from the security forces. But the next day Nasheed, who now faces an arrest warrant, announced he had actually been pushed from power at gunpoint. The reality remains unclear.

On Thursday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Washington recognized the new government of President Mohammed Waheed Hassan as legitimate.

Asked about Washington's stance, Nasheed told reporters: "It's unfortunate that the American government has decided to work with the regime."

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake was scheduled to visit the capital, Male, on Saturday and meet with Hassan, Nasheed and members of civil society.

Meanwhile, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco met Friday with Hassan, hoping to ease the political situation, and was expected to meet later with Nasheed. Fernandez-Taranco declined to make any comments after his meeting.

The new government insists Nasheed stepped down voluntarily. It has made no move to arrest Nasheed, who is living openly in his home in Male.

Nasheed is now calling for early elections, insisting his party would emerge victorious.

While the two politicians remain at odds, there has been no sign of violence in the country located off southern India since Wednesday. On Friday, the first day of the country's weekend, there was little extra security to be seen in Male, though a few dozen policemen in riot gear were posted outside Nasheed's house.

In New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was sending a special envoy to Male to assess the situation.

"We sincerely hope that the problems that have arisen there can be resolved in a peaceful way and our effort is to use our influence in that direction," Singh told reporters.

After Nasheed's resignation, thousands of his supporters swept into the streets of Male, clashing with security forces, while others attacked police stations in remote parts of this 1,200-island archipelago.