India, UN envoys land in Maldives amid political crisis

Herald Globe Friday 10th February, 2012

MALE - A special United Nations envoy and a senior Indian diplomat have landed in the Maldives amid a political crisis in the archipelago following a dramatic regime change in the Indian Ocean nation.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco was to hold talks with new President Mohamed Waheed, who took over from Mohamed Nasheed after the former head of the state was ousted in what he called a coup d'etat.

The tiny island nation plunged into crisis Tuesday when Nasheed announced his resignation following months of protests against his rule and declining support from the police and the army.

Nasheed after stepping down voluntarily later alleged that he had been pushed from power at a "gunpoint".

Nasheed who faces an arrest warrant has called for early elections and insisted his party would emerge victorious.

The UN special envoy who arrived here last night was also to meet the former president who had invited him to help in ending a stalemate with opposition parties over the arrest of a senior judge when he was still in power.

Crisis deepen in the fledgling democracy as Nasheed supporters protested in the capital demanding revocation of his arrest warrant.

"In this atmosphere it is very difficult for any meaningful and national form of discussion. I therefore request all political actors to remain calm and prevent any type of violence," Fernandez-Taranco told reporters after his Thursday arrival.

Neighboring India also sent its special envoy to assess the situation in the island.

M. Ganapathi, who is a secretary in the external affairs ministry, left for Male Friday afternoon.

"I have sent an envoy to Maldives to assess the situation," Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters in Delhi, as he hoped that the stalemate can be resolved through peaceful dialogue.

"It will be our effort to use our influence in that direction," he said.