All suspects accused of the attack on private television station Villa TV (VTV) during the unrest that swept across the capital Male following the reconvening of Parliament on March 19 has denied all charges. State had charged eight people over the attack on VTV today at the Criminal Court. The suspects include R. Maduvvaree, Fehiali, Ismail Hamdhan, R. Alifushi, Hameedhee Manzil, Ahmed Hameed, and Hussein Hameed, H. Ladhumaage Aaage, Ahmed Naeem, M. Nooruzeyru Hussain Shifau Jameel , AA. Feridhoo, Aazaadhuge Aanim Hassan, G. Haalam, Ahmed Muheen and registry number 7471, Mohamed Hameed.
State in Court detailed that suspects have been charged with pelting the VTV building and the military officers stationed outside with stones and instigating violence after gathering near the building on March 19.
After the suspects individually denied the charges, the State had used the opportunity given to present video and photographic evidence in addition to the accounts of some police, military and VTV employees present at the scene on the day of the crime.
The Judge presiding over the case said a session would be held tomorrow to decide on the detention of the suspects charged in the case.
If convicted, the suspects could face a sentence of three to seven years in prison.
VTV had come under a vicious attack where serious damage was inflicted to the building after Police had broken up the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest against the reconvening of Parliament.
VTV had labeled the incident, as a terrorist attack.
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Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Gasim calls for Speaker Shahid's resignation
Following the absence of Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid in the sit-down which began today to facilitate a stable environment in order to recommence the presently suspended Parliament, Jumhoory Party leader and Maamigili constituency MP Gasim Ibrahim has called for the Speaker's resignation. The absence of Shahid in today’s discussions that had been proposed by the Speaker himself held at the President’s Office at 11.00 this morning, was pointed out as a potential sign of insincerity by Gasim. He further added that the move by Shahid also showed the lack of concern over the suspended Parliament sessions.
In addition to Gasim, MPs from opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), pro-government Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) and People’s Alliance (PA) participated in the sit-down today, while Vice-President Mohamed Waheed Deen represented President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik at the discussions.
In relation to the talks today, Gasim stressed that if the Speaker had any sincerity “he would have been here.†He added that even the Speaker did not have the authority to keep the Parliament suspended indefinitely.
Though a consensus was not reached today, discussions had taken place among the parties. MDP deputy Parliamentary group leader and Thoddoo constituency MP Ali Waheed representing the party in the talks revealed that the demands of the opposition have been put forth to the sit-down today.
Vice President Deen told the media later, that a reply to the conditions of MDP would be given after consulting with President Waheed.
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In addition to Gasim, MPs from opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), pro-government Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) and People’s Alliance (PA) participated in the sit-down today, while Vice-President Mohamed Waheed Deen represented President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik at the discussions.
In relation to the talks today, Gasim stressed that if the Speaker had any sincerity “he would have been here.†He added that even the Speaker did not have the authority to keep the Parliament suspended indefinitely.
Though a consensus was not reached today, discussions had taken place among the parties. MDP deputy Parliamentary group leader and Thoddoo constituency MP Ali Waheed representing the party in the talks revealed that the demands of the opposition have been put forth to the sit-down today.
Vice President Deen told the media later, that a reply to the conditions of MDP would be given after consulting with President Waheed.
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Case of MPs Hamid, Ibrahim Rasheed sent to PG
Police has sent the cases of Parliament Henveiru-South constituency MP Hamid Abdul Ghafoor and Maafannu-South constituency MP Ibrahim 'Bondey' Rasheed to the Prosecutor General's (PG) Office for prosecution. Official of the PG’s office stated that both, Hamid and Ibrahim Rasheed are being charged with the obstruction of police duties. In addition, police had also sent the case of Hamid’s refusal to provide a urine sample to the police, PG official said.
Maldives Police Services (MPS) detailed that Hamid’s case was sent to the PG on August 1 and Ibrahim Rasheed’s case was sent on August 6.
Police had previously sent Maafannu-North constituency MP Imthiyaz ‘Inthi’ Fahmy’s case of disobedience to the police, to the PG during June.
Inthi today said that the ‘coup’ government will charge MPs and the people with different accusations including obstruction of police work and terrorism.
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Maldives Police Services (MPS) detailed that Hamid’s case was sent to the PG on August 1 and Ibrahim Rasheed’s case was sent on August 6.
Police had previously sent Maafannu-North constituency MP Imthiyaz ‘Inthi’ Fahmy’s case of disobedience to the police, to the PG during June.
Inthi today said that the ‘coup’ government will charge MPs and the people with different accusations including obstruction of police work and terrorism.
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Indian police arrest protesting yoga guru
Indian police on Monday arrested famed TV yoga guru and anti-corruption campaigner Baba Ramdev as he attempted to lead a procession of thousands of supporters to parliament. Ramdev, an eccentric saffron-robed holy man with a yoga empire that spans the globe, began a protest in New Delhi last Thursday demanding the government do more to repatriate illicit money stashed by Indians in foreign accounts.
Police parked buses and erected barricades across the route taken by Ramdev and his supporters, many of whom had come from his home town of Haridwar in the foothills of the Himalayas.
"Oust Congress -- save the country," Ramdev declared to supporters.
Ramdev and activist Anna Hazare have made joint efforts to mobilise Indians to fight corruption, following a string of major scandals that have tarnished the Congress-led government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Hazare, a former army driver who models his appearance on independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, led a huge protest movement in 2011 but his popularity and ability to tap into public anger have since waned.
Ramdev, whose current protest has been largely ignored by the government -- unlike in 2011 when senior ministers held meetings with him -- said he had wanted to march to parliament to have the voice of his supporters heard by lawmakers.
Ramdev and other arrested protesters were transported to a stadium in the centre of New Delhi as thousands of supporters crowded the streets, shouting "hail mother India".
They followed the guru to the stadium barely a kilometre from where he was arrested, creating a big traffic jam in one of New Delhi's busiest office districts.
Initially police had planned to hold Ramdev in a stadium on the outskirts of the capital. But shifting him there proved impossible "due to the traffic jam and monsoon showers", police spokesman Rajan Bhagat told AFP.
Police said late Monday they were releasing the guru and his supporters but they refused to leave the stadium, claiming that the protest had taken a "decisive turn," according to local media reports.
Ramdev's refusal to quit the stadium was causing worries for authorities who were putting in place tight security arrangements for India's Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday.
India's ruling Congress party, meanwhile, charged that Ramdev was being used by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the country's main opposition.
"The country has seen today that the masks have fallen and the real faces have been revealed," Congress spokesman Janardhan Dwivedi said after BJP president Nitin Gadkari delivered a speech of support at Ramdev's rally.
"The BJP president has gone there and they (Ramdev's supporters) say they have no relationship with political parties. I am saying the masks are off," he said.
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Police parked buses and erected barricades across the route taken by Ramdev and his supporters, many of whom had come from his home town of Haridwar in the foothills of the Himalayas.
"Oust Congress -- save the country," Ramdev declared to supporters.
Ramdev and activist Anna Hazare have made joint efforts to mobilise Indians to fight corruption, following a string of major scandals that have tarnished the Congress-led government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Hazare, a former army driver who models his appearance on independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, led a huge protest movement in 2011 but his popularity and ability to tap into public anger have since waned.
Ramdev, whose current protest has been largely ignored by the government -- unlike in 2011 when senior ministers held meetings with him -- said he had wanted to march to parliament to have the voice of his supporters heard by lawmakers.
Ramdev and other arrested protesters were transported to a stadium in the centre of New Delhi as thousands of supporters crowded the streets, shouting "hail mother India".
They followed the guru to the stadium barely a kilometre from where he was arrested, creating a big traffic jam in one of New Delhi's busiest office districts.
Initially police had planned to hold Ramdev in a stadium on the outskirts of the capital. But shifting him there proved impossible "due to the traffic jam and monsoon showers", police spokesman Rajan Bhagat told AFP.
Police said late Monday they were releasing the guru and his supporters but they refused to leave the stadium, claiming that the protest had taken a "decisive turn," according to local media reports.
Ramdev's refusal to quit the stadium was causing worries for authorities who were putting in place tight security arrangements for India's Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday.
India's ruling Congress party, meanwhile, charged that Ramdev was being used by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the country's main opposition.
"The country has seen today that the masks have fallen and the real faces have been revealed," Congress spokesman Janardhan Dwivedi said after BJP president Nitin Gadkari delivered a speech of support at Ramdev's rally.
"The BJP president has gone there and they (Ramdev's supporters) say they have no relationship with political parties. I am saying the masks are off," he said.
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Afghan policeman fires on NATO allies, wounds 2: officials
An Afghan policeman wounded at least two foreign soldiers when he opened fire on troops from the US-led NATO mission on Monday, officials said, adding to a spike in such attacks. The shooting took place in Achin, a remote district in the eastern province of Nangarhar, local police chief Abdullah Azim Stanikzai told AFP. NATO confirmed the incident but gave no details.
The majority of NATO troops in Nangarhar are American.
The shooter escaped unhurt but an Afghan intelligence officer was wounded when coalition soldiers returned fire, Stanikzai added.
Seven soldiers of the US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) lost their lives over four days last week when Afghan forces turned weapons on their NATO allies.
According to NATO, 37 of its soldiers have died in 27 such attacks so far this year, up from 21 incidents and 35 deaths in all of 2011.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for Monday's attack and said the gunman was with the militia. "He's a brave Afghan. He's with us," Mujahid told AFP by telephone.
Stanikzai said the policeman had just returned from leave.
"He was on vacation but had just returned to duty. He grabbed a weapon from a colleague and opened fire," he added. He said a hunt to arrest him was under way.
An ISAF spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Hagen Messer, said "a man wearing civilian clothes fired at ISAF-ANSF troops", using the acronym for Afghan security forces.
"The shooter was a member of the Afghan uniform police," Messer said, confirming the injuries.
Although the Taliban often claim credit, Afghan and Western officials say most attacks are motivated by cultural differences between troops fighting the Taliban side by side.
Known as "green on blue", there has been a dramatic spike in such attacks in recent months.
On Friday, two such incidents killed six Americans in the southern province of Helmand. One of the shooters was a man in police uniform and the other a civilian staff member on a joint Afghan-NATO base.
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The majority of NATO troops in Nangarhar are American.
The shooter escaped unhurt but an Afghan intelligence officer was wounded when coalition soldiers returned fire, Stanikzai added.
Seven soldiers of the US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) lost their lives over four days last week when Afghan forces turned weapons on their NATO allies.
According to NATO, 37 of its soldiers have died in 27 such attacks so far this year, up from 21 incidents and 35 deaths in all of 2011.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for Monday's attack and said the gunman was with the militia. "He's a brave Afghan. He's with us," Mujahid told AFP by telephone.
Stanikzai said the policeman had just returned from leave.
"He was on vacation but had just returned to duty. He grabbed a weapon from a colleague and opened fire," he added. He said a hunt to arrest him was under way.
An ISAF spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Hagen Messer, said "a man wearing civilian clothes fired at ISAF-ANSF troops", using the acronym for Afghan security forces.
"The shooter was a member of the Afghan uniform police," Messer said, confirming the injuries.
Although the Taliban often claim credit, Afghan and Western officials say most attacks are motivated by cultural differences between troops fighting the Taliban side by side.
Known as "green on blue", there has been a dramatic spike in such attacks in recent months.
On Friday, two such incidents killed six Americans in the southern province of Helmand. One of the shooters was a man in police uniform and the other a civilian staff member on a joint Afghan-NATO base.
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Olympic flag arrives in Rio, host of 2016 Games
The Olympic flag arrived in Rio de Janeiro, which will host the 2016 Summer Games -- a challenge which authorities in Brazil say the city is prepared to conquer. Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes stepped off a plane carrying the flag, accompanied by Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the 2016 Games Organizing Committee and Rio Governor Sergio Cabral, an AFP correspondent at the airport saw.
"The arrival of the Olympic flag marks a period of transformation in the city," Paes told reporters. "This is a unique opportunity for Brazil -- a time of great celebration."
Also on board the plane were Brazilian athletes -- some with medals around their necks -- who competed in the London Games, which ended on Sunday in a blaze of music, fireworks and light.
"Arriving in Rio with the flag was a privilege for us, the athletes," said Robert Scheidt, who won bronze in Olympic sailing's Star competition with Bruno Prada.
"There is room for much improvement (in terms of the number of medals won) here in Rio," Scheidt added.
Brazil won a total of 17 medals in London -- three gold, five silver and nine bronze.
Hosting the Games will be a huge challenge for a city notorious for its traffic chaos, poor infrastructure and shanty town violence, but authorities say Rio -- which also hosts the 2014 World Cup -- will rise to the occasion.
On Tuesday, the Olympic flag will be flown to Brasilia for a ceremony attended by President Dilma Rousseff and on Wednesday, Paes will carry it through Rio's northern Alemao complex of shanties -- known here as favelas -- as well as through the western district of Realengo, officials said.
On Sunday, Paes received the Olympic flag from London Mayor Boris Johnson during the ceremony that marked the close of the London Games and the countdown to the 2016 Summer Games, which will be the first held in South America.
On Monday, Brazilian deputy sports minister Luis Fernandes said in London that the 2016 Games would galvanize projects already in place across South America's largest country as well as in Rio, a city of 6.5 million people.
The plans in Rio include the extension of a metro line to the western Barra da Tijuca district. Four express lanes for buses and cars are also under construction.
"The Olympics are an opportunity to invest a huge quantity of funds in infrastructure, an amount that would normally take 15 or 20 years to invest," Fernandes told a press conference in London.
"The Olympics give us an opportunity to concentrate resources to build this infrastructure a bit sooner," he added.
Brazilian Olympic Committee officials and Rio city authorities insist everything will be ready. Some of the venues will be used for the World Cup, but the Olympic Village and other event sites still must be built.
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"The arrival of the Olympic flag marks a period of transformation in the city," Paes told reporters. "This is a unique opportunity for Brazil -- a time of great celebration."
Also on board the plane were Brazilian athletes -- some with medals around their necks -- who competed in the London Games, which ended on Sunday in a blaze of music, fireworks and light.
"Arriving in Rio with the flag was a privilege for us, the athletes," said Robert Scheidt, who won bronze in Olympic sailing's Star competition with Bruno Prada.
"There is room for much improvement (in terms of the number of medals won) here in Rio," Scheidt added.
Brazil won a total of 17 medals in London -- three gold, five silver and nine bronze.
Hosting the Games will be a huge challenge for a city notorious for its traffic chaos, poor infrastructure and shanty town violence, but authorities say Rio -- which also hosts the 2014 World Cup -- will rise to the occasion.
On Tuesday, the Olympic flag will be flown to Brasilia for a ceremony attended by President Dilma Rousseff and on Wednesday, Paes will carry it through Rio's northern Alemao complex of shanties -- known here as favelas -- as well as through the western district of Realengo, officials said.
On Sunday, Paes received the Olympic flag from London Mayor Boris Johnson during the ceremony that marked the close of the London Games and the countdown to the 2016 Summer Games, which will be the first held in South America.
On Monday, Brazilian deputy sports minister Luis Fernandes said in London that the 2016 Games would galvanize projects already in place across South America's largest country as well as in Rio, a city of 6.5 million people.
The plans in Rio include the extension of a metro line to the western Barra da Tijuca district. Four express lanes for buses and cars are also under construction.
"The Olympics are an opportunity to invest a huge quantity of funds in infrastructure, an amount that would normally take 15 or 20 years to invest," Fernandes told a press conference in London.
"The Olympics give us an opportunity to concentrate resources to build this infrastructure a bit sooner," he added.
Brazilian Olympic Committee officials and Rio city authorities insist everything will be ready. Some of the venues will be used for the World Cup, but the Olympic Village and other event sites still must be built.
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DRC judoka, coaches, missing - ministry
A judoka and three coaches from the Democratic Republic of Congo's Olympic delegation have gone missing after leaving the Athletes' Village at the London Games, the country's sports ministry said on Monday. Cedric Mandembo, who competed in the +100kg category, boxing coach Blaise Bekwa, athletics coach Guy Nkita and judo coach Ibula Masengo have not been seen since the Games came to a close on Sunday evening, the source said, requesting anonymity.
The country's 12-strong delegation to the Games is due back in Kinshasa on Thursday.
An informed source in the capital said national boxing coach Bekwa disappeared from the Athletes' Village on Friday while Nkita, national athletics technical director, had left the area just after Ilunga Mande pulled out of the men's marathon. Masengo was reported to have disappeared Saturday night while Mandembo was said to have disappeared just after the closing ceremony on Sunday evening.
Asked about the disappearances, the minister of sport and youth, Baudoin Banza Mukalay, said: "I don't know... I left London this morning. Yesterday (Sunday) I was with officials before the closing ceremony.
"They gave me a report that everything was going well."
According to Mukalay, the Congolese delegation is due back in Kinshasa before Wednesday.
The country's four athletes did not shine at the Games: Mandembo lost his first fight after only 49 seconds; Ilunga Sankuru finished 14th out of 15 in the women's 1500m; while boxer Mwamba Meji lost on a referee's decision.
Marathon runner Ilunga Mande pulled out two kilometres from the finish.
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The country's 12-strong delegation to the Games is due back in Kinshasa on Thursday.
An informed source in the capital said national boxing coach Bekwa disappeared from the Athletes' Village on Friday while Nkita, national athletics technical director, had left the area just after Ilunga Mande pulled out of the men's marathon. Masengo was reported to have disappeared Saturday night while Mandembo was said to have disappeared just after the closing ceremony on Sunday evening.
Asked about the disappearances, the minister of sport and youth, Baudoin Banza Mukalay, said: "I don't know... I left London this morning. Yesterday (Sunday) I was with officials before the closing ceremony.
"They gave me a report that everything was going well."
According to Mukalay, the Congolese delegation is due back in Kinshasa before Wednesday.
The country's four athletes did not shine at the Games: Mandembo lost his first fight after only 49 seconds; Ilunga Sankuru finished 14th out of 15 in the women's 1500m; while boxer Mwamba Meji lost on a referee's decision.
Marathon runner Ilunga Mande pulled out two kilometres from the finish.
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London basks in Olympic glory despite doping case
The London Olympics lost its first medallist to a doping scandal on Monday as Belarus shot-putter Nadezhda Ostapchuk was stripped of gold a day after the Games closed in a blaze of music and colour. Thousands of athletes began a mass exodus from London and turned their thoughts to Rio de Janeiro in 2016, as Britain basked in the adulation for a Games that electrified billions of viewers around the globe.
London's Heathrow Airport said it was expecting the busiest day of the Games on Monday with 6,000 athletes travelling through a special Games terminal and another 11,000 officials and media due to leave through normal channels.
Many would be leaving with little sleep after a glittering closing ceremony featuring The Who, the Spice Girls, George Michael and Brazilian football legend Pele entertaining a crowd of 80,000 at the Olympic Stadium.
But 31-year-old Ostapchuk waved goodbye not just to the Games but also to her women's shot put title after the International Olympic Committee said she had tested positive for the anabolic steroid metenolone.
Ostapchuk, the 2005 world champion, took a surprise gold medal with a throw of 21.36m, but urine samples provided the day before the competition and immediately after it both tested positive, the IOC said.
The gold medal will now go to Valerie Adams of New Zealand, with Russia's Yevgeniya Kolodko taking silver and Lijiao Gong of China bronze.
The news failed to dampen the mood in Britain though, with London Mayor Boris Johnson saying that for him and many other Londoners the Games had been "the most extraordinary event we can remember in our lifetimes".
Olympics chief Sebastian Coe, speaking at the same press conference as Johnson, said he hoped there would be a long-term boost for British sport.
"These British moments, those international moments that we've seen in those venues, will do more than anything else to inspire young people to take up sport," Coe said.
During two weeks of sporting spectacle record-breaking Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and US swimmer Michael Phelps lit up the Olympic Park in east London.
Heptathlete Jessica Ennis led an unexpectedly high number of British champions who kept fans' excitement at fever pitch.
The United States topped the medals table with 46 golds, eight ahead of China, while Britain had 29 -- their best since 1904. It was the first Games where every team had at least one female competitor.
The closing ceremony also saw the Olympic flag handed over to the mayor of Rio, a symbolic transfer which launches the four-year countdown to the 2016 Games.
Rio gave a taste of what to expect with a swinging samba section in a ceremony that included Pele and carnival-style dancers.
IOC President Jacques Rogge, speaking during the closing ceremony, praised the Games as "happy and glorious" -- a reference to the lyrics of Britain's national anthem "God Save the Queen".
After 16 full days of competition, 302 Olympic titles were handed out and 46 world records broken.
More than seven million fans came out to watch Olympic events, and Bolt's 200m win generated a staggering 80,000 tweets a minute.
Prime Minister David Cameron received congratulations from US President Barack Obama, who called him to praise the organisation of the Games and the performance of the British team.
Cameron said the Games had reflected the best of Britain's multi-cultural complexion, taking the example of Mo Farah, who won a rare 5,000m and 10,000m double.
"Over the past couple of weeks, we have looked in the mirror and we like what we have seen as a country," Cameron said.
Around 5,000 fans gathered in Leeds, northern England, to give a hero's welcome to three local medallists.
Triathlon winner Alistair Brownlee, his bronze-winning brother Jonathan and cycling road race silver medalist Lizzie Armitstead greeted Union Jack waving crowds before attending a reception in the city centre.
Farah came to Britain at age eight after spending his early years in Somalia and Djibouti.
Britain's newspapers on Monday reflected the country's newfound pride but also betrayed a tinge of sadness that the Games were over.
"Thanks, it's been a blast," said the Daily Telegraph over a picture of the giant Union Jack that covered the floor of the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony, while the Guardian bade "Goodbye to the Glorious Games".
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London's Heathrow Airport said it was expecting the busiest day of the Games on Monday with 6,000 athletes travelling through a special Games terminal and another 11,000 officials and media due to leave through normal channels.
Many would be leaving with little sleep after a glittering closing ceremony featuring The Who, the Spice Girls, George Michael and Brazilian football legend Pele entertaining a crowd of 80,000 at the Olympic Stadium.
But 31-year-old Ostapchuk waved goodbye not just to the Games but also to her women's shot put title after the International Olympic Committee said she had tested positive for the anabolic steroid metenolone.
Ostapchuk, the 2005 world champion, took a surprise gold medal with a throw of 21.36m, but urine samples provided the day before the competition and immediately after it both tested positive, the IOC said.
The gold medal will now go to Valerie Adams of New Zealand, with Russia's Yevgeniya Kolodko taking silver and Lijiao Gong of China bronze.
The news failed to dampen the mood in Britain though, with London Mayor Boris Johnson saying that for him and many other Londoners the Games had been "the most extraordinary event we can remember in our lifetimes".
Olympics chief Sebastian Coe, speaking at the same press conference as Johnson, said he hoped there would be a long-term boost for British sport.
"These British moments, those international moments that we've seen in those venues, will do more than anything else to inspire young people to take up sport," Coe said.
During two weeks of sporting spectacle record-breaking Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and US swimmer Michael Phelps lit up the Olympic Park in east London.
Heptathlete Jessica Ennis led an unexpectedly high number of British champions who kept fans' excitement at fever pitch.
The United States topped the medals table with 46 golds, eight ahead of China, while Britain had 29 -- their best since 1904. It was the first Games where every team had at least one female competitor.
The closing ceremony also saw the Olympic flag handed over to the mayor of Rio, a symbolic transfer which launches the four-year countdown to the 2016 Games.
Rio gave a taste of what to expect with a swinging samba section in a ceremony that included Pele and carnival-style dancers.
IOC President Jacques Rogge, speaking during the closing ceremony, praised the Games as "happy and glorious" -- a reference to the lyrics of Britain's national anthem "God Save the Queen".
After 16 full days of competition, 302 Olympic titles were handed out and 46 world records broken.
More than seven million fans came out to watch Olympic events, and Bolt's 200m win generated a staggering 80,000 tweets a minute.
Prime Minister David Cameron received congratulations from US President Barack Obama, who called him to praise the organisation of the Games and the performance of the British team.
Cameron said the Games had reflected the best of Britain's multi-cultural complexion, taking the example of Mo Farah, who won a rare 5,000m and 10,000m double.
"Over the past couple of weeks, we have looked in the mirror and we like what we have seen as a country," Cameron said.
Around 5,000 fans gathered in Leeds, northern England, to give a hero's welcome to three local medallists.
Triathlon winner Alistair Brownlee, his bronze-winning brother Jonathan and cycling road race silver medalist Lizzie Armitstead greeted Union Jack waving crowds before attending a reception in the city centre.
Farah came to Britain at age eight after spending his early years in Somalia and Djibouti.
Britain's newspapers on Monday reflected the country's newfound pride but also betrayed a tinge of sadness that the Games were over.
"Thanks, it's been a blast," said the Daily Telegraph over a picture of the giant Union Jack that covered the floor of the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony, while the Guardian bade "Goodbye to the Glorious Games".
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European teams warm up for World Cup qualifying
World champions Spain return to action this week in their first match since retaining their European title, as countries gear up for the start of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. La Roja, currently number one in the FIFA world rankings, take on Puerto Rico, who are 137 places below them, in Bayamon on Wednesday, with Vicente del Bosque opting to rest Barcelona veterans Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol.
Also omitted from the 19-man squad is 23-year-old winger Jordi Alba, who is rested after his inclusion in Spain's Olympic football side.
Spain were in outstanding form when they beat Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final on July 1 and the Azzurri are looking to pick themselves up from that disappointment with a positive warm-up against England.
The match in the Swiss capital, Bern, is a re-run of the Euro 2012 quarter-final, which Italy won 4-2 on penalties, but they will be without Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli, who has conjunctivitis.
Balotelli was one of the stars of the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, scoring three times, including twice in the semi-final against Germany. He was also absent from the English champions' 3-2 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday.
Roy Hodgson had named a young side for the fixture, leaving John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard out as they prepare for the start of the Premier League on Saturday.
But the England manager faces an injury dilemma, with Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (ankle), goalkeeper Joe Hart (back) and Daniel Sturridge (toe) all sidelined.
Elsewhere, beaten Euro 2012 semi-finalists Germany play Argentina in Frankfurt, with coach Joachim Loew also choosing to rest key players like Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Loew has also left out goalkeeper Tim Wiese, Per Mertesacker in defence and Lukas Podolski up front from the 22 who went to Euro 2012.
First-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has also withdrawn after picking up an injury in last weekend's Super Cup, which his side Bayern Munich won 2-1, taking revenge on Borussia Dortmund who last season beat them to the Bundesliga title and German Cup.
Miroslav Klose is the only acknowledged centre-forward, in the absence of Mario Gomez, who is recovering from a heel operation.
For the Argentinians, Benfica's Enzo Perez has been called up to replace injured Newell's Old Boys winger Maxi Rodriguez (knee).
France play Uruguay in the northern city of Le Havre, in Didier Deschamps' first match in charge.
World Cup 1998 winner Deschamps has left out Yann M'Vila and Hatem Ben Arfa because of disciplinary issues at Euro 2012, while Samir Nasri and Jeremy Menez are serving suspensions for misconduct.
The former Marseille manager has called up Paris Saint-Germain's Christophe Jallet, Real Madrid's Raphael Varane and Etienne Capoue of Toulouse for the first time.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, of Ligue 1 champions Montpellier makes a return but there was no place for Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda, Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye, Valencia's Adil Rami and Philippe Mexes of AC Milan.
In other matches, former England boss Fabio Capello takes charge of Russia for the first time in their game against Ivory Coast in Moscow and has included controversial captain Andrei Arshavin.
Russia crashed out of Euro 2012 at the group stage and Arshavin found himself on the receiving end of a wave of criticism for dismissing the team's below-par performance as a problem for the fans rather than the players.
Another manager returning to international action is Louis van Gaal, who took over from Bert van Marwijk as Dutch coach after the Oranje's disappointing Euro 2012 campaign in which they lost all their matches.
The Dutch play Marc Wilmot's Belgium in Brussels.
World Cup 2014 hosts Brazil, who do not have to qualify, take on Sweden in Solna.
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Also omitted from the 19-man squad is 23-year-old winger Jordi Alba, who is rested after his inclusion in Spain's Olympic football side.
Spain were in outstanding form when they beat Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final on July 1 and the Azzurri are looking to pick themselves up from that disappointment with a positive warm-up against England.
The match in the Swiss capital, Bern, is a re-run of the Euro 2012 quarter-final, which Italy won 4-2 on penalties, but they will be without Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli, who has conjunctivitis.
Balotelli was one of the stars of the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, scoring three times, including twice in the semi-final against Germany. He was also absent from the English champions' 3-2 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday.
Roy Hodgson had named a young side for the fixture, leaving John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard out as they prepare for the start of the Premier League on Saturday.
But the England manager faces an injury dilemma, with Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (ankle), goalkeeper Joe Hart (back) and Daniel Sturridge (toe) all sidelined.
Elsewhere, beaten Euro 2012 semi-finalists Germany play Argentina in Frankfurt, with coach Joachim Loew also choosing to rest key players like Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Loew has also left out goalkeeper Tim Wiese, Per Mertesacker in defence and Lukas Podolski up front from the 22 who went to Euro 2012.
First-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has also withdrawn after picking up an injury in last weekend's Super Cup, which his side Bayern Munich won 2-1, taking revenge on Borussia Dortmund who last season beat them to the Bundesliga title and German Cup.
Miroslav Klose is the only acknowledged centre-forward, in the absence of Mario Gomez, who is recovering from a heel operation.
For the Argentinians, Benfica's Enzo Perez has been called up to replace injured Newell's Old Boys winger Maxi Rodriguez (knee).
France play Uruguay in the northern city of Le Havre, in Didier Deschamps' first match in charge.
World Cup 1998 winner Deschamps has left out Yann M'Vila and Hatem Ben Arfa because of disciplinary issues at Euro 2012, while Samir Nasri and Jeremy Menez are serving suspensions for misconduct.
The former Marseille manager has called up Paris Saint-Germain's Christophe Jallet, Real Madrid's Raphael Varane and Etienne Capoue of Toulouse for the first time.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, of Ligue 1 champions Montpellier makes a return but there was no place for Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda, Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye, Valencia's Adil Rami and Philippe Mexes of AC Milan.
In other matches, former England boss Fabio Capello takes charge of Russia for the first time in their game against Ivory Coast in Moscow and has included controversial captain Andrei Arshavin.
Russia crashed out of Euro 2012 at the group stage and Arshavin found himself on the receiving end of a wave of criticism for dismissing the team's below-par performance as a problem for the fans rather than the players.
Another manager returning to international action is Louis van Gaal, who took over from Bert van Marwijk as Dutch coach after the Oranje's disappointing Euro 2012 campaign in which they lost all their matches.
The Dutch play Marc Wilmot's Belgium in Brussels.
World Cup 2014 hosts Brazil, who do not have to qualify, take on Sweden in Solna.
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Nasheed vows to bring offenders to justice after CNI report
Former President Mohamed Nasheed last night vowed not to return home after the report of the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) set up to probe the circumstances surrounding the transfer of power is issued, until the offenders are brought to justice. Speaking during the ceremony held last night to commemorate August 12-13 better known as ‘Black Friday’, Nasheed pledged to continue his efforts till true independence is established in the Maldives.
“I assure you that Inshah Allah I will not relent in my efforts to instill true independence in the Maldives. We will rise. We will emerge. Inshah Allah I will restore the rule for the people,†Nasheed said.
Nasheed further reaffirmed that the downfall of his government was clear as day and the ‘coup’ had been witnessed by all. He stressed that no matter what the final verdict of the CNI’s report maybe, it would definitely find that members of the police and the military had acted outside the laws and regulations and repeatedly vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Despite his strong statement, Nasheed did point out that the majority of the Police and military officers were good and were striving to reform the institutions. He added that he would work with the patriotic officers of the Police and military. The former President also highlighted the importance of a security force that is not feared by the people.
MDP had stated that August 12-13 is celebrated to mark the brutal treatment of protesters against the 30-year regime of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on the very dates in 2004, and the the party’s website included that former President Nasheed had been treated very brutally by the Police on the first anniversary of Black Friday following his arrest while sitting peacefully at the Republic Square marking the day.
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“I assure you that Inshah Allah I will not relent in my efforts to instill true independence in the Maldives. We will rise. We will emerge. Inshah Allah I will restore the rule for the people,†Nasheed said.
Nasheed further reaffirmed that the downfall of his government was clear as day and the ‘coup’ had been witnessed by all. He stressed that no matter what the final verdict of the CNI’s report maybe, it would definitely find that members of the police and the military had acted outside the laws and regulations and repeatedly vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Despite his strong statement, Nasheed did point out that the majority of the Police and military officers were good and were striving to reform the institutions. He added that he would work with the patriotic officers of the Police and military. The former President also highlighted the importance of a security force that is not feared by the people.
MDP had stated that August 12-13 is celebrated to mark the brutal treatment of protesters against the 30-year regime of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on the very dates in 2004, and the the party’s website included that former President Nasheed had been treated very brutally by the Police on the first anniversary of Black Friday following his arrest while sitting peacefully at the Republic Square marking the day.
Tweet Bookmark Print Badge the Comments! Give badges to the best comments you see! You will get four badges a day 1 Comments To have full access to the interactive features available in Haveeru Online please register or sign in. or Post a Comment More Loading comments... Please wait
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