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Maldives

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President Nasheed Resigns

In what he described as a coup, President Nasheed resigned from office on Feb. 7, 2012. Immediately following his resignation, a warrant was issued for his arrest for unspecified criminal charges. Mohammed Waheed Hassan was named president. On Feb. 11, an American envoy encouraged Hassan and Nasheed's two factions to form a unity government. America has an interest in Maldives because the country is located near crucial shipping lanes, which are infested with pirates.

Later in February, Hassan named his cabinet, which includes members of former President Gayoom's political party. However, the new government did not have the approval of Nasheed. On Feb. 16, spokesmen for both Nasheed and Hassan announced that the two sides had agreed on an early election. Voting would take place in a few months as opposed to the previously scheduled Oct. 2013 election. However, no specific date had been set because the country's Constitution must be changed in order to move the election.

See also Encyclopedia: Maldives
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Maldives
Ministry of Planning and National Development http://www.planning.gov.mv/en/ .