Maldives to inquire into allegation of coup to ex-president

MALE - Amidst international demand for clarification on Tuesday's power transfer from former President Mohamed Nasheed to his vice president, Maldives announced on Saturday that an independent inquiry would be conducted on the allegation of coup d'etat in the Indian ocean island nation.

"I am fully committed to an independent investigation," newly appointed President Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan said addressing the international media from the Presidential Office.

"I don't want to set a presidential commission to do that and to influence the process. There is a constitutional mechanism," he said. Waheed reiterated that he came to office according to a constitutional process.

"I am completely open to an independent investigation of what went on," he said.?

President Waheed called on all parties including Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for discussion on how investigations could be conducted into the allegation.

Britain and the US had earlier inquired on the allegations of coup during the process of transfer of power from Nasheed who claimed his resignation was after a military mutiny backed by political powers.

Nasheed's exit from office followed weeks of protests over an arrest of a judge. A day after stepping down, rioting erupted across the city and several atolls and Nasheed announced he was a victim of a military-backed coup. Nasheed has called for fresh elections and threatened street fights against the new administration.