'Maldives' Nasheed wasn't ousted in coup'

Mohamed Nasheed was not ousted as president in a coup as claimed by him and the transfer of power was legal, a government-appointed inquiry commission said on Thursday amid caution by India to all stakeholders in Maldives against disturbing peace and tranquility over it.

The change of the president on February 7 was "legal and constitutional," said the report compiled by the Commission of the National Inquiry (CONI) and handed over to President Mohamed Waheed.

India wants all political parties in the Maldives to take up the issues arising out of the report through a peaceful political dialogue, to make a way forward for resolving the political situation in the country.

The events that occurred on February 6 and 7 were, in large measure, "reactions to the actions" of 45-year-old Nasheed, who was the first democratically-elected President of Maldives, said the report.

"The resignation of President Nasheed was voluntary and of his own free will" and was "not caused by any illegal coercion or intimidation," it said.

"There were acts of police brutality on 6, 7 and 8 February 2012 that must be investigated and pursued further by the relevant authorities," the executive summary of the 62-page report said.

With regard to the idea that there was a "coup d'etat", nothing in the Maldives changed in constitutional terms, said the report, which was rejected by Nasheed.

The constitution was precisely followed as prescribed and President Waheed properly succeeded Nasheed, it said.

Nasheed has been maintaining that he was removed in a coup and urging India to recognise this.