Mohammed Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of Maldives, resigned on Tuesday following weeks of protests against him over his controversial order to arrest a senior judge.
He announced his resignation moments after multinying Maldivian police took over the state broadcatster.
The police also began broadcasting an opposition-linked television station\\\’s calls for people to come on the streets to overthrow President Mohamed Nasheed.
While addressing the nation on state television, he said that it will be better for the country in the current situation if he resigns.
"I don\\\’t want to run the country with an iron fist, I am resigning," he said.
The country\\\’s vice president Mohammed Waheed Hassan is now all set to take over the presidensy.
Army Brigadier Ahmed Shiyam told reporters that Nasheed has agreed to hand over the presidency to his Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan.
After weeks of protests, the crisis came to a head on Tuesday morning when several hundred people along with police, who defied orders to break up opposition protests earlier on Tuesday, staged protests outside the headquarters.
A handful of MNDF soldiers were also taking part in the demonstration. Later, troops fired rubber bullets and clashed with the police.
When Mr. Nasheed visited the police and urged them to end the protest, they refused and instead chanted for his resignation.
A statement by the government posted on the president\\\’s website said that "the government of the Maldives together with all state institutions will work to ensure peace and stability in Male.
"The government of the Maldives calls on people to remain calm and support to stabilise the situation," it added.
The protests against Nasheed began last month after he ordered arrest of Criminal Court Chief Justice Abdulla Mohamed on charges of misconduct.
The government alleged tat the judge\\\’s ruling was politically motivated when he ordered release of an opposition activist, calling his arrest illegal.
Nasheed, a former political prisoner, was elected in 2008 when the Maldives staged its first democratic presidential election, ending three decades of autocratic rule by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Nasheed is also well-known as a high-profile environmental celebrity to convince foreign powers to combat climate change.
The Maldives, a country of 1,192 Indian Ocean islands scattered across the equator, is famous for its upmarket holiday resorts and hotel.
Indians are the largest expatriates in Maldives, with a population of over 19,000.
However, as per the Indian ministry of external affairs, the Indian community is safe in Maldives amidst the violence.