The Opposition here in the Maldives renewed its calls for President Mohamed Nasheed to step down despite mediation efforts earlier this week by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to settle the constitutional impasse here.
A massive protest rally planned for last evening was postponed for Monday evening due to inclement weather here.
Two deputy leaders of the main opposition DRP -- Umar Naseer and Ilham Ahmed -- called on President Nasheed to resign immediately to pave the way for "a responsible government to take charge of the country" at this critical moment in its history.
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| President Mohamed Nasheed |
Speaking in a television talk show, they said the resignation en masse and the subsequent reinstallation of the outgoing cabinet showed that the president was "utterly confused" and did not know how to get out of the political mess he himself had created. They also said that Majlis (Parliament) would not confirm any member of the old cabinet.
According to the Maldivian constitution, all cabinet ministers will have to be confirmed by Majlis before they can take charge of their ministries. Feelings among all opposition MPs is high against the re-appointment of the outgoing ministers.
Private radio and TV stations carried opinion polls throughout today, and most of the listeners and viewers voted for the removal of President Nasheed.
Earlier in the week, the former chairperson of the government MDP, Dr Mohamed Munavvar, also called on Mr. Nasheed to resign.
Speaking in a VTV programme telecast live, Dr. Munavvar said "Kenereegey Mohamed Nasheed had failed as president politically, constitutionally and morally." Dr. Munavvar never referred to Mr. Nasheed as president even once. The former MDP chairperson said that Mr. Nasheed had consistently violated the constitution and other laws of the country and that he had proved by his actions and words
that he had no capacity or credentials to govern the country.
In his weekly broadcast to the nation on Friday, President Nasheed said he was following the advice President Rajapaksa had given during his recent visit to Male "in some matters". He did not specify which matters they were.
A source close to President Rajapaksa's delegation said the Sri Lankan leader had repeatedly urged Mr. Nasheed to release the detained opposition leaders as a gesture of goodwill. The two opposition leaders, Abdulla Yamin and Gasim Ibrahim, and deputy speaker Ahmed Nazim still remain under house arrest. |
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