If investigations conclude me to have involved in a coup, I will resign: President Waheed

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that he would resign from presidency, if an independent investigation concludes that he had taken part in any coup d’état against former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed.

Nasheed resigned on the 7th of last February, when the Maldivian security forces finally refused to carry out any more “unconstitutional and illegal orders of Nasheed in violation of express laws and Court orders” and the demands of the people for him to go away became a force much too strong for Nasheed to withstand.

President Waheed said that he would resign in case “an independent investigation finds” himself to have partaken in a coup against Nasheed’s government, in an interview to the BBC. President Waheed is now in the UK, as an invitee to the celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee as Monarch.

Speaking to BBC, Dr. Waheed said that he had not taken any part in a coup against Nasheed’s government.

“If the Inquiry Commission (entrusted with the investigation of 7th February) says that I had any part in a rebellion, I would certainly resign. However, even if there was a rebellion, if the Commission does not find me to have involved in it, I would have to remain in office, as per the laws of the Maldives”, said Dr. Waheed, according to BBC.

President Waheed repeatedly stated the Government’s position that there would not be an early presidential election in the Maldives. He said that the Maldivian Constitution did not allow such an election to be conducted.