The Maldives, a popular tourist destination, saw a change in leadership as the man responsible for bringing democracy to the islands stepped down amid military pressure following a police mutiny. The man's party described it as a bloodless coup. The capital island, Male, appeared calm just a day after police and opposition protesters attacked the military headquarters and took control of the state TV station. Despite the political turmoil, daily life continued as usual for residents, while tourists enjoyed the luxury resorts on the desert islands. Former President Mohamed Nasheed resigned on Tuesday and was released from military custody. The speaker of the People's Majlis swore in Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik as his deputy. The United Nations Secretary-General 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 in the country. The protests, sparked by Nasheed's directive to arrest a judge he believed was obstructing corruption cases against former government officials, culminated in a police revolt. Eventually, Nasheed was compelled to resign as the military escorted him into his office and pressured him to step down. Nasheed's communications adviser, Paul Roberts, described the scene as unfamiliar vehicles and soldiers surrounded Nasheed during his departure. Roberts, a 32-year old British citizen, stated that Nasheed was taken to his office where he met with his cabinet before going on television to announce his resignation. According to Roberts, Nasheed was pressured to resign by the military. Despite having the option to resist, Nasheed chose not to use violence in order to avoid bloodshed. Amnesty International cautioned the new government against targeting individuals based on their political beliefs, particularly in light of calls for Nasheed's prosecution and rumors that his closest allies may be prevented from leaving the country. The new president, Waheed, was expected to lead a coalition national unity government until the presidential election in October 2013. He stated that it was inaccurate to label the change of leadership as a coup and assured that tourists were not in danger. Tourism makes up a significant portion of the Maldives' economy, with estimates suggesting it contributes to two-thirds of the country's gross domestic product of around $1 billion. Despite some travel advisories, including ones from Britain, cautioning against travel to Male, the majority of the Maldives' nearly 1 million annual visitors do not visit the capital. Instead, they are transported directly from the airport island to their resorts by speedboat or seaplane. Arrivals of flights on Wednesday were normal. Opposition parties, despite their differing views, united against Nasheed during the constitutional crisis and protests, criticizing his Islamic beliefs. The Maldives is a Sunni Muslim country. Analyst N. Sathiya Moorthy praised Nasheed for being the first democratically elected president but also criticized him for creating unnecessary political deadlocks. Moorthy also commended Nasheed for showing loyalty to democratic values by gracefully stepping down from office. In a clear indication that the time period prior to Nasheed's leadership had returned, the national broadcaster MNBC was rebranded as TV Maldives and began airing numerous interviews with opposition figures. The channel had been known by that name during the 30-year rule of former president Gayoom, who was known for his authoritarian governance style and was Nasheed's rival. Nasheed, who had spent a total of six years in jail as a result of 27 arrests while advocating for democracy against Gayoom, ultimately defeated his opponent in the 2008 election, which was the first multi-party democratic election in the history of the former British protectorate. The nation, which has a population of approximately 330,000 and was once a sultanate, also gained recognition for Nasheed's passionate advocacy regarding climate change and the threat of rising sea levels to the low-lying country.