New Maldives president vows to uphold rule of law

COLOMBO: The newly appointed president of the Maldives Mohamed Waheed vowed to uphold the "rule of law" Tuesday in a statement issued just hours after the dramatic resignation of his predecessor, Mohamed Nasheed.

"At any cost, the rule of law must be upheld," Waheed said in a public statement posted on the presidential website.

Stressing the need for political differences to be put aside, Waheed warned that "no law must be violated in any revenge against the past political leaders," the statement said.

Waheed, who was Nasheed's vice president, had been swiftly sworn in as the new head of state following the resignation announcement.