Male: President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan's brother, the Deputy High Commissioner of the Maldives to the UK, has announced his resignation and called for his brother to follow suit.
Naushad Hassan said, "He could not support a regime that had taken over through a coup."
Mohammed Waheed Hassan after the coup expanded his cabinet. The expansion includes two key players from former dictator Gayoom's administration.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed is set to continue with his protest rally unless his successor handed power to the speaker of parliament to prepare for a new presidential election. However, Waheed had ruled out a presidential election before it is due in October 2013.
The new President however on February 12 inducted seven new ministers in his cabinet.
Maldives is strategically located along the major sea lanes in Indian Ocean. India and Maldives share close ties.
In 1988, India had responded to a call by then president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to help quell an externally-induced coup attempt by rebels from Sri Lanka.
Waheed, previously the vice president, was sworn in as president afternoon after Mohammed Nasheed was compelled to resign following widespread protests against him.
Waheed has pledged to form a national unity government until polls are held in 2013.
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