This isn’t a legitimate government: Nasheed supporter

As violence spread across the Maldives Thursday, a lawmaker who is a supporter of ousted president Mohamed Nasheed said the new government of Mohamed Waheed is not a “legitimate government”.

Eva Abdulla, a lawmaker for the Maldivian Democratic Party, said: “Given the kind of brutality we saw on TV last (Wednesday) night, I don’t know how calm people will be.”

Violence erupted in capital Male after Nasheed, who quit Tuesday, took to the streets along with thousands of his supporters.

The police and army attacked the protesters who were shouting slogans against newly-appointed President Mohamed Waheed and alleging that his taking office was illegal and undemocratic.

Abdulla said several lawmakers had been detained by the police Wednesday but they had returned to their homes early Thursday. She added that all of them were beaten up, reported CNN.

The party’s acting chairman Moosa Manik was hospitalised due to the violence and has been flown to Sri Lanka for treatment, she said.

Describing new President Mohamed Waheed as a “puppet leader” for the police, she said: “This is not a legitimate government.”

“We will not negotiate with an unconstitutional government,” CNN quoted Abdulla as saying.

Waheed Wednesday announced he would form a coalition government with the participation of all political parties, including former president Nasheed’s MDP.

“I will work with the spirit of coalition with various partners of the country. Together with them, we will be able to build a stable democratic country that respects individual freedom foremost (and) respects and upholds (the) constitution that guarantees the bill of rights for our people,” said Waheed.