US closely watching situation in Maldives

Closely monitoring the situation in Maldives, the US has said that its interest is in a government transition that reflects the will of the people.
"Our position has not changed - we continue to watch the situation closely and to voice our support for both elections on Saturday as well as our interest in a government transition that reflects the will of the Maldivian people," a State Department spokesperson said yesterday.
The State Department statement came in response to a question on news reports the Maldivian president, Mohamed Waheed, whose term expired on November 11, resigned ahead of run-off elections.

Waheed, who took office when the first democratically elected President Mohamed Nasheed resigned under duress in February 2012, had been under pressure from India and western powers to step down after his tenure ended on November 10.