Ousted Maldives president calls for help

Supporters gather outside the home of ousted President of the Maldives.

On Wednesday former president Mohamed Nasheed was taken away by police.

Nasheed, who in 2008 became the first democratically elected president of the island nation in the Indian Ocean -- resigned Tuesday after weeks of opposition protests culminated in a police revolt.

On Thursday the Maldives' interior minister vented his fury after supporters of the ousted president took to the streets.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERIOR MINISTER MOHAMED JAMEEL SAYING:

"I think it is completely sad, it is utterly disgusting, it is irresponsible, and it's a sad day. I would define it as the saddest day in the modern history of the Maldives. Nothing, nothing warrants this scale of destruction. It is clearly an irresponsible act on the part of those who were involved in it, and I think it is in the interest of the nation that we take stock of the facts and consider where we are heading, whether this kind of activities can be called democratic activities."

Now the ousted President is calling for help from the international community.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) OUSTED MALDIVIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMED NASHEED SAYING:

"I hope the international community will take note of what is happening in the Maldives, and if they can't do something right now, it certainly will be late tomorrow."

REPORTER ASKING: "WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?"

"We tend to work with facts on the ground, and tomorrow, the fact on the ground will be that I will be in jail, so it will be difficult to rewind from there on, but it will be rather much more easier if people can start work now."

Violent protests spread outside the country's capitol Male on Wednesday after former president Mohamed Nasheed was ousted in a coup.

Earlier on Thursday a police commissioner told reporters that 18 police stations and two courts had been burnt or attacked by Nasheed supporters the day before.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.