16 July 2012 Last updated at 06:42 ET

Maldives profile - Leaders

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media
• Timeline

Mohammed Waheed Hassan

President: Mohammed Waheed Hassan

Mohammed Waheed Hassan stepped into his predecessor's shoes when he resigned amid opposition-led protests in February 2012.

Mr Hassan had been vice-president to Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader who came to power in 2008 and who says he was forced to resign at gunpoint in what he described as a military coup.

Mr Nasheed says he doesn't recognise the new government and has called for new elections.

He resigned on national television following weeks of protests over the arrest of a top judge.

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was president for 30 years until 2008

Maldives introduced democratic elections in 2008, ending President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's 30-year autocratic rule.

Mohamed Nasheed had long been at the forefront of efforts to push Mr Gayoom towards democratisation, organising the Maldives' main opposition party while in exile in Britain.

Before seeking refuge abroad, he was repeatedly jailed for his political activities, and says he was tortured twice while in prison.