COLOMBO: A Commonwealth-backed investigation in the Maldives on Thursday dismissed claims that a coup forced Mohamed Nasheed from the presidency in February and declared it was a legitimate transfer of power.

The panel’s report concluded that Nasheed, who alleged he was ousted in a coup, had resigned voluntarily — a judgment promptly rejected by his party which vowed to keep up protests to press for early elections.

The Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI), consisting of four nationals named by political parties and a Singaporean judge nominated by the Commonwealth, found the change of president was “legal and constitutional”.

“The resignation of President Nasheed was voluntary and of his own free will,” it said in a 62-page report which was also signed by a Canadian and New Zealander who functioned as observers for the UN and the Commonwealth.—AFP