Maldivian President's brother quits, denounces new regime

President Mohamed Waheed Hassan's brother, the Deputy High Commissioner of the Maldives to the United Kingdom, has resigned and asked his brother to follow suit, describing his new government as "illegitimate".

"I have resigned from my post of deputy high commissioner as of now. I have resigned because I cannot serve a regime that has brought down the democratically elected  government of my country in a coup d'etat," said Naushad Waheed Hassan told reporters in London.

"Some of you may question why I have not resigned before. When the coup was unfolding in the early hours of February 7, my initial reaction was to resign immediately.

However, as you all know, the leader of the current regime, Mohamed Waheed Hassan, is my own brother. So I decided to take time to make my own enquiries before I came to a conclusion. And it is with a heavy heart that I have to say that this is indeed an illegitimate government and I cannot be party to it."

Meanwhile, when asked about his brother's resignation and denouncement of the his regime, President Waheed said, "I didn't appoint my brother to the High Commission. He was appointed by the former President and so you know where his loyalties are. And so if he has decided to quit, I respect his decision".

"This is a small country and so you will find that in a house, there are people who belong to different political parties. So it does not surprise me".

But when asked on the personal accusations made by his brother, the President said, "I have no comments".