Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has demanded that President Mohammed Waheed quit and an interim, caretaker government be set up to ensure free and fair elections in September.

"The events of the past year, the mass arrests, the police brutality, the politically motivated trials, demonstrate that Dr Waheed cannot be trusted to hold a free and fair election," Nasheed said in a statement posted on the website of his Maldivian Democratic Party.

"Waheed should do the right thing and resign from office. An interim, caretaker government should be established that can lead the Maldives to genuinely free and fair elections," 45-year-old Nasheed said.