Top U.S. official visits Maldives to clarify the crisis

Robert Blake, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for south Asian affairs who arrived to the island nation on Saturday morning is to meet both Nasheed and present president Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan.

Blake's visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago comes in the wake of criticism by former president Nasheed who expressed concern over U.S. recognition of new Maldivian administration. Nasheed insisted his resignation on Tuesday was the result of a coup d' etat orchestrated by opposition leaders and the former regime backed by the security forces and Waheed's government.

Following Friday's criticism by Nasheed, the United States in a quick response said that it would work with the new Maldivian government, but would seek to clarify how power was transferred from Mohamed Nasheed to his successor Mohamed Waheed.

The United States issued the statement as Nasheed voiced disappointment at the U.S. decision to recognize Waheed, whom Nasheed suspects of knowing about the conspiracy to remove him from office.

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