Maldives court orders arrest of ousted president Nasheed

The Progressive Party of the Maldives, led by Gayoom, said in a statement it was appalled by Nasheed's desperate attempts at insurgency to return to power barely 24 hours after his resignation.

''Nasheed must know that militancy and chaos do little to repair his tarnished image,'' it said.

Western diplomats said they wanted all political parties, including Nasheed's, to back down and join the unity government.

''We want to take the politics off the streets and cool the rhetoric down,'' a European diplomat based in Colombo told Reuters.

The United Nations and Western governments have given the transfer of power at least an apparent seal of approval, based on their public statements.

However, John Rankin, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, said he was concerned for Nasheed.

''We are aware of reports of an arrest warrant issued for President Nasheed, Rankin said. We are concerned that no harm comes to him. If it did, it would be a matter of serious concern for us and the international community.''

The new president of Mohamed Waheed, who is accused by his predecessor of taking part in a coup, today struggled to contain "anarchy" in the holiday paradise as protests and violence spread.

Waheed made two emergency Cabinet appointments – home and defence -- after supporters of former president Mohamed Nasheed stormed police stations and burned government buildings in outlying atolls of the archipelago nation.

"Even though the appointment of a national unity Cabinet is taking time, the president made these two urgent appointments to take charge and control the spread of violence," presidential aide Mohamed Shareef told AFP.

"What you see on the roads is anarchy," he added. In the capital Male, thousands of pro-Nasheed protesters had clashed yesterday with security forces near the police and military headquarters, with unconfirmed media reports that three people had been killed.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Imran Khan injured after fall from forklift at rally, rushed to Lahore hospital

Pakistan issues advisory, cautions its citizens over travelling to India

Violence grips Bangladesh as Islamists demand stricter blasphemy law

Malaysian Sikhs angry after Sikh politician shaves his head bald at Chinese temple