Rais wa nchi ya Maldives ajiuzuru

Rais Mohamed Nasheed, katikati mwenye shati jeupe, akiwa amesimama makao makuu ya jeshi kabla hajatangaza kujiuzuru kwake katika mji mkuu Male, huko  Maldives, on Feb. 7, 2012.

Sinan Hussain / AP

Wanajeshi kushoto na polisi kulia  wakipambana mji mkuu Male leo Feb. 7, 2012.

Reuters reports from MALE: 

Maldives Presidential Office via AFP - Getty Images

Rais Mohamed Nasheedakitangaza kujiuzuru leo Feb. 7, 2012 mji mkuu Male baada ya maandamano na mapambano kati ya wanjeshi na polisi.

President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives resigned on Tuesday after weeks of protests erupted into a police mutiny, leaving the man widely credited with bringing democracy to the paradise islands accused of being as dictatorial as his predecessor.

Nasheed handed power over the Indian Ocean archipelago to Vice-President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, who was sworn in in the afternoon, explaining that continuing in office would result in his having to use force against the people.

"I resign because I am not a person who wishes to rule with the use of power," he said in a televised address. "I believe that if the government were to remain in power it would require the use of force which would harm many citizens." 

Wafuasi wa upinzani na polisi wakiwapigia kelele wanajeshi (hawapo pichani) mji mkuu Male leo Feb. 7, 2012.

A soldier kicks a tear gas canister towards police during a clash in Male on Feb. 7, 2012.