The former president of the Maldives has demanded new elections and called for mass street protests if the new government does not relent, raising the prospect of a protracted political crisis on the Indian Ocean islands.Mohamed Nasheed, who says his resignation earlier in the week was forced by a coup, remained free on Friday despite an arrest warrant against him as diplomats, including a UN envoy, worked to forestall renewed violence.He demanded his successor and former vice president, Mohamed Waheed, step down and hand power to the speaker of the parliament for two months, until a new presidential poll can be called.In a television interview "I cannot protect him if he continues to do this kind of thing," Waheed said. The new president also said that Nasheed had been acting "autocratic in so many ways". For more info log onto http://alpha.newsx.com/
