Maldives' ex-president says was forced to resign

NEW DELHI: The Maldives' ex-president Mohamed Nasheed told AFP Wednesday he had been forced to resign by armed police and army officers in a coup plot hatched with the knowledge of his successor.

Nasheed, speaking to AFP by telephone from the capital, said he had gone to military headquarters on Tuesday where he found about 18 "middle-ranking" police and army officers in control.

"They told me if I didn't resign they would resort to use arms," he said. "I took it as a threat. I wanted to negotiate the lives of the people who were serving in my government."

He added that he feared his "vice president was in on it" referring to Mohamed Waheed, who was sworn in as head of state on Tuesday.