Ousted Maldivian president alleges assassination plot

Maldives' ousted president Mohamed Nasheed has claimed that officers of the Maldivian Army and police had been plotting to detain and assassinate him and that he was aware of the masterminds behind the "coup" that forced him out of power.

"They were trying to accomplish it to the last minute, but with the mercy of God, I have been granted the opportunity to be with you all here tonight," he said while addressing a party rally last night, according to a report on the Haveeru newspaper's website today.

Nasheed said he was aware of the masterminds as well as of plots to assassinate him but did not disclose any further details or any names pertaining to the alleged assassination plot, the paper said.

He said he would not allow the people to suffer at the hands of the "traitors" currently in power and called on the people to practice "civil disobedience" until the demands for snap elections are met, the report said.

Haveeru is Dhivehi language influential paper here.

In a major show of strength, Nasheed hosted a rally of his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) at the artificial beach area here last night.

The protest rally was attended by around 5,000 supporters who held placards and banners against the police and the current regime headed by President Mohamed Waheed Hassan.

Though initially, the crowd numbered only about 1,000, the strength grew as time passed.

Male has an approximate population of 1,20,000 people including 22,000 Indians, besides other foreigners.

The MDP workers had set up giant screens relaying pictures and videos of police crackdown against their supporters and activists.

MDP lawmakers along with Nasheed addressed the crowd in the native language.