Mohamed Nasheed, Maldives president, resigns amid crisis

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed resigned Tuesday after weeks of demonstrations against him and a mutiny by some police officers.

Earlier in the day, one such group of officers reportedly took control of the state broadcaster in the capital, Male, and urged people to come on the streets to overthrow Nasheed.

Many of the recent protests have been called by supporters of former longtime president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, whose 30-year rule was widely seen as autocratic.

Nasheed said in an address on state TV that it would be better for the country if he stood down, the Associated Press reported.

"I don't want to hurt any Maldivian. I feel my staying on in power will only increase the problems, and it will hurt our citizens," Nasheed, a former human rights campaigner and environmental activist, reportedly said. "So the best option available to me is to step down."

Nasheed, widely credited with ushering in full democracy with a 2008 election win, has for weeks been in a struggle with Gayoom, according to Reuters.

Public protests in the Indian Ocean island chain, known better for its luxury resorts, escalated last month after Nasheed ordered the arrest of a senior judge, Abdulla Mohamed, whom he had accused of being an operative for Gayoom.

Mohamed had ordered the release of a government critic, calling his arrest illegal. However, the government accused the judge of political bias and corruption.

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, along with the Maldives Supreme Court, Human Rights Commission, Judicial Services Commission and Nasheed's own vice president have all called for Mohamed.