The 50-year-old former president said the increased Chinese presence could threaten the Muslim-majority nation of 340 000

New Maldives president Mohamed Waheed has welcomed a Commonwealth mission to investigate the ousting of his predecessor after overnight clashes.

There are fears of renewed street violence after political turmoil since the Maldives’s former president Mohamed Nasheed was forced out of office.

Rioting broke out in the Maldives after Mohamed Nasheed said he was forced to give up his office at gunpoint, raising fears of a power struggle.

President Mohamed Nasheed has resigned after protests erupted into a police mutiny, leaving him accused of being as dictatorial as his predecessor.

Mutinying police in the Maldives have taken over the state broadcaster and called for people to come to the streets to boot President Mohamed Nasheed.