Noting that Nasheed was a candidate for the Presidential

elections to be held in September, India had yesterday said in a statement that it is necessary that the Presidential nominees of recognised political parties be free to participate in the polls without any hindrance. Replying to it, Maldives in a late night statement had said, "It was unfortunate that the Government of India has decided to publicly comment on today's events instead of opting for bilateral discussions between the two Governments". Meanwhile in Male, Nasheed demanded that President Mohammed Waheed must quit and an interim, caretaker government be set up to ensure free and fair elections. "The events of the past year, the mass arrests, the police brutality, the politically motivated trials, demonstrate that Dr Waheed cannot be trusted to hold a free and fair election," Nasheed said in a statement posted on the web site of his Maldivian Democratic Party. "Waheed should do the right thing and resign from office. An interim, caretaker government should be established that can lead the Maldives to genuinely free and fair elections, in which all candidates are freely able to compete," he said. Nasheed labelled his ongoing trial "a politically motivated sham" and said the Hulhumale Magistrates Court, established to hear his case, was illegal and created "with the sole purpose of disqualifying me from standing in the presidential elections".