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New Maldives president vows 'peace and order'
New Maldives president Mohamed Waheed pledged on Tuesday to restore "peace and order" as international pressure mounted on him to ease tensions after his predecessor was ousted.
Maldivian president Mohammed Waheed assured a European delegation that he would form an inclusive unity cabinet including members of ousted president Mohammed Nasheed's party
President Mohamed Waheed's office said he assured a visiting European delegation that he would form a "fully inclusive" cabinet, including members of former president's Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
The EU delegation comprising Colombo-based ambassadors, including French ambassador Christine Robichon, will meet with Maldivian political leaders, including former president Nasheed to assess the political crisis.
Nasheed says he was ousted in a military-backed coup following weeks of opposition protests and has demanded fresh presidential elections. On Sunday, he rejected a US call for compromise and the formation of a unity government.
Diplomatic sources said the EU is keen to de-escalate tensions and peacefully resolve the conflict.
Waheed has already agreed to a Commonwealth probe into the dramatic fall of Nasheed, the Muslim nation's first democratically elected leader who came to power in 2008.
UN Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco wrapped up a visit Monday saying a peaceful solution is needed to end the crisis that sparked violence in the sun-drenched archipelago normally known for its upmarket tourism.
