Maldives' new president pledges support for an investigation into weeks of protests in the oceanic archipelago.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW MALDIVIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMED WAHEED HUSSAIN MANIK SAYING:<br/> <br />"I have heard these calls for an independent inquiry into events that preceded my assumption of office and I am open to those suggestions, there is no problem with it. I will be completely impartial and I will encourage an independent investigation."<br/> <br />President Mohamed Waheed Hussain Manik also asked for calm to protect foreign investment after his predecessor, Mohamed Nasheed, resigned amid a police mutiny and growing protests.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW MALDIVIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMED WAHEED HUSSAIN MANIK<br/> <br />"As for safety and security of foreign investment, I think we all have to work together for this, if you have some parties going around torching place and causing destruction, it's not going to happen and I am calling today for those kind of activities to cease."<br/> <br />His message comes just days after Nasheed supporters took to the streets, claiming he was forced out of office unfairly.<br/> <br />The growing unrest in the beach destination came from a long-standing rivalry between Nasheed and former President Maumon Abdul Gayoom.<br/> <br />But Nasheed isn't going down without a fight.<br/> <br />On Friday, the former president demanded new elections and vowed to amass protests.<br/> <br />He has some international support, with many Madivians in Sri Lanka behind his cause.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER OF THE SRI LANKA MUSLIM CONGRESS, SHAFEEK RAJABDEEN<br/> <br />"No military, no violence must take place. Therefore we would like to ask the acting President of Maldives Mr Waheed to conduct democratically a peaceful process without assaulting, killing or burning down the people of Maldives."<br/> <br />Nasheed, elected in 2008, resigned last week, saying he did not want to use force to stay in office.<br/> <br />Jessica Gray, Reuters
