The Maldives, known as a top tourist destination, saw a change in leadership as the man who is credited with bringing democracy to the islands stepped down amidst military pressure following a police mutiny. His party labeled it as a bloodless coup. The streets of the capital island, Male, were peaceful the day after police and opposition protesters took over the military headquarters and state TV station. This political upheaval did not affect the daily lives of Maldivians or the tourists who visit the luxury resorts on the desert islands. Former President Mohamed Nasheed resigned on Tuesday and was released from military custody. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, his deputy, was sworn in by the speaker of the People's Majlis, or parliament. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed hope that the transfer of power, deemed a constitutional measure to prevent further violence and instability, would lead to a peaceful resolution of the political crisis that has divided the country. Nasheed's directive to the military to arrest a judge, whom he accused of obstructing corruption cases against former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's government, sparked three weeks of opposition protests culminating in a police revolt on Tuesday. Ultimately, the same military personnel escorted Nasheed to his office where he was pressured to resign, according to a close aide's account to Reuters. Roberts, a 32-year old British citizen, stated that Nasheed was taken to his office, introduced to his cabinet, and then appeared on television to announce his resignation. Roberts mentioned that Nasheed was pressured by the military to step down and could have resisted, but chose not to resort to violence. Amnesty International advised the new government to refrain from targeting individuals based on their political beliefs, as there were concerns about potential persecution of Nasheed's supporters and rumors that his close associates might be prevented from leaving the country. The incoming president, Waheed, was anticipated to lead a coalition national unity government until the presidential election in October 2013. He stated that labeling the change in leadership as a coup was incorrect and reassured that tourists were not in danger. Tourism plays a significant role in the Maldives' economy, accounting for approximately two-thirds of its GDP of around $1 billion. Despite some travel advisories, such as from Britain, advising against travel to Male, the majority of the Maldives' nearly 1 million annual visitors do not actually visit the capital. Instead, they are transported directly from the airport island to their resorts by speedboat or seaplane. Flights arriving on Wednesday were running as usual. Opposition parties with different views came together to criticize Nasheed amid the constitutional crisis and protests. They have started using harsh language to question his Islamic beliefs in the predominantly Sunni Muslim country. Analyst N. Sathiya Moorthy, in an article in The Hindu newspaper, noted that while Nasheed will be remembered as the Maldives' first democratically elected president, he will also be remembered for the political deadlocks he created. However, Moorthy praised Nasheed for his commitment to democratic principles by gracefully stepping down from office instead of allowing the situation to escalate into a political or military conflict. During the time period before Nasheed's presidency, the state broadcaster MNBC was renamed TV Maldives and featured numerous interviews with opposition figures. This name change occurred during the 30-year rule of former president Gayoom, who was known for his authoritarian leadership style. Nasheed, who had faced numerous arrests while fighting for democracy against Gayoom, eventually defeated him in a 2008 election - the first multi-party democratic election in the history of Maldives. Nasheed also gained recognition for his strong advocacy on climate change and the rising sea levels that pose a threat to the low-lying nation.