President visits Addu City, Fuvammulah

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik is visiting Addu City and Fuvammulah, reports Haveeru.

Residents of Addu and Hulhumeedhoo “warmly welcomed” President Waheed on arrival, said Haveeru’s correspondent Ahmed Adhshan. “Around 70 opposition members” were also called for his immediate resignation.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed visited Addu City last week.

Minivan News recently reported that Addu, the second-largest population centre in the Maldives after Male and – electorally – a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) stronghold – was facing a violent social divide driven by political uncertainty.

Police, court buildings, vehicles and a police training centre were destroyed on February 8 in the aftermath of a brutal police crackdown on protesters in Male’. Many supporters of the MDP were subsequently taken into custody, prompting a delegation from the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) and Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).

Dr Waheed will address residents of the atoll this evening, reports Haveeru.