<p>Maldives main opposition party vowed today to protect the ''constitutional rights'' of resigned president Mohamed Nasheed, amid calls for him to be taken into military custody and charged with corruption.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"We have asked the military to ensure president Nasheed's constitutional rights are upheld," said Mohamed Shareef, spokesman for former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).<br /><br />Speaking to AFP from the Maldives capital Male, Shareef said Nasheed was at home and "being allowed to communicate with people outside."<br /><br />Nasheed, who ousted Gayoom from power in 2008 in the Maldives first democratic presidential election, resigned today in the face of widespread popular protests and a mutiny within police ranks.<br /><br />Gayoom, who is in Malaysia on a medical visit, was extremely "relieved" to hear that the president had stepped down, Shareef said.<br /><br />"He told us it was now very important that the authorities move swiftly to assure the rule of law," Shareef said.<br /><br />Earlier, the opposition Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), which has accused Nasheed of being under the influence of Jews and Christians, said it had requested the army to detain Nasheed.<br /><br />"We have asked the military to keep (Nasheed) in protective custody, to face charges of corruption and misuse of power," DQP leader Hassan Saeed said.<br /><br />"His rule was tainted with nepotism and corruption, often breaching the constitution," Saeed said.<br /><br />Nasheed, 44, who was educated in Sri Lanka and Britain, came to power in 2008 after building a pro-democracy movement with local and foreign support in opposition to the 30-year autocratic rule of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.</p>
<p>Maldives main opposition party vowed today to protect the ''constitutional rights'' of resigned president Mohamed Nasheed, amid calls for him to be taken into military custody and charged with corruption.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"We have asked the military to ensure president Nasheed's constitutional rights are upheld," said Mohamed Shareef, spokesman for former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).<br /><br />Speaking to AFP from the Maldives capital Male, Shareef said Nasheed was at home and "being allowed to communicate with people outside."<br /><br />Nasheed, who ousted Gayoom from power in 2008 in the Maldives first democratic presidential election, resigned today in the face of widespread popular protests and a mutiny within police ranks.<br /><br />Gayoom, who is in Malaysia on a medical visit, was extremely "relieved" to hear that the president had stepped down, Shareef said.<br /><br />"He told us it was now very important that the authorities move swiftly to assure the rule of law," Shareef said.<br /><br />Earlier, the opposition Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), which has accused Nasheed of being under the influence of Jews and Christians, said it had requested the army to detain Nasheed.<br /><br />"We have asked the military to keep (Nasheed) in protective custody, to face charges of corruption and misuse of power," DQP leader Hassan Saeed said.<br /><br />"His rule was tainted with nepotism and corruption, often breaching the constitution," Saeed said.<br /><br />Nasheed, 44, who was educated in Sri Lanka and Britain, came to power in 2008 after building a pro-democracy movement with local and foreign support in opposition to the 30-year autocratic rule of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.</p>