Nasheed apologised to escape criminal charges: Spokesperson

Government Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza has said that former President Mohamed Nasheed apologized to former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom for having accused him of being the mastermind behind the plans to change the government, to escape the criminal charges being filed against him.

Abbas made this statement in an interview with Sun Online today.

He pointed out that Nasheed’s apology lacks sincerity, because Nasheed is leading the current violent protests in Male’ when the main purpose of the all-party-talks is to end the political unrest.

He called on Nasheed to end the protests and participate in peaceful political dialogue.

Abbas said that the government has not yet been informed of Nasheed’s apology being accepted, and that this will be decided by the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Council.

A statement issued by the office of former President Mohamed Nasheed says that Nasheed accused Gayoom of having organized the events leading up the transfer of power based on how the events panned out from the day the government changed.

However Nasheed had made the decision to apologise to Gayoom, because Gayoom had indicated that he will not engage in dialogue with Nasheed until Nasheed apologised for the unsubstantiated statements made by Nasheed against him.

And considering the current situation of the country, Nasheed believes that they should both prioitise the interest of the nation over their personal interest.

Soon after Nasheed apologized to Gayoom, PG office sent the case against Nasheed and former Defence Minister Thalthah Ibrahim Kaleyfaan, of the arrest of an innocent person, for prosecution.