US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake, center, arrives for a one-day official visit to Male, Maldives, February 11, 2012.
The new president of the Maldives has agreed to a probe about his rise to power.
Mohammed Waheed Hassan told U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake Saturday that he was willing to submit to an independent investigation about his political takeover.
Blake was sent to the Indian Ocean nation to help mediate the country＇s deepening political crisis. He met Saturday with Mr. Hassan and former president Mohamed Nasheed.
Mr. Nasheed resigned Tuesday after numerous calls by protesters and police officers for him to step down. He said he was the victim of a military-backed coup. His former deputy, Mr. Hassan, was sworn in as president hours later.
Washington recognized Mr. Hassan＇s administration Thursday, but then stepped back from the declaration, saying circumstances surrounding the transfer of power needed to be "clarified."
Mr. Nasheed has expressed disappointment with the U.S. stance. He has maintained the new president was involved in helping remove him from office, allegations Mr. Hassan has denied.
Since stepping down, Mr. Nasheed has called for early elections and has threatened street protests. He has vowed to remain in the country even though a warrant for his arrest was issued Thursday, following clashes Wednesday between police and Mr. Nasheed＇s supporters in the capital, Male and several outlying islands.
The capital remained calm Friday. But the former president said security forces were still targeting his supporters on the Maldives＇ most southern atoll of Addu.
U.N. official Oscar Fernandez-Taranco met with President Hassan and Mr. Nasheed Friday in an attempt to help resolve the political dispute.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP. |
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