Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed says the country should hold presidential elections as soon as possible.

Nasheed stepped down on February 7th after weeks of opposition-led protests in the island nation in the Indian Ocean. He says the military forced him to resign. Tension is mounting between Nasheed and new president Mohammed Waheed Hassan.

In a telephone interview with NHK on Wednesday, Nasheed said the new administration supports autocracy rather than democracy. He also said the government lacks legitimacy.

Nasheed called for early elections, saying the public should be given a chance to choose its leaders.

India and other countries have called on Nasheed's party to join the new government, but he said he has no intension of doing so.

He added that the Maldives people's rights should come first.

Thursday, February 23, 2012 15:07 +0900 (JST)