Maldives: Protesters surround President

Protesters in the Maldives blocked the new president Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik from entering parliament yesterday, the latest salvo in a political crisis that has begun to hurt the Indian Ocean archipelago's reputation as a luxury tourist paradise.

Thousands of supporters of ex-president Mohamed Nasheed, who says he was forced to resign last month under threat of violence, surrounded the building, while legislators from his Maldivian Democratic Party stopped proceedings inside. Mr Nasheed's supporters have vowed to continue protesting until elections are called.