Mohamed Nasheed was not ousted as President in a coup as claimed by him and the transfer of power was legal, a government-appointed inquiry commission said today amid caution by India to all stakeholders in Maldives against disturbing peace and tranquillity over it.

The change of the President on February 7 was "legal and constitutional," said the report compiled by the Commission of the National Inquiry (CONI) and handed over to President Mohamed Waheed.

India wants all political parties in the Maldives to take up the issues arising out of the report through a peaceful political dialogue, to make a way forward for resolving the political situation in the country.

The events that occurred on February 6 and 7 were, in large measure, "reactions to the actions" of 45-year-old Nasheed, who was the first democratically-elected President of Maldives, said the report.

"The resignation of President Nasheed was voluntary and of his own free will" and was "not caused by any illegal coercion or intimidation," it said.

"There were acts of police brutality on 6, 7 and 8 February 2012 that must be investigated and pursued further by the relevant authorities," the executive summary of the 62- page report said.

With regard to the idea that there was a "coup d'etat", nothing in the Maldives changed in constitutional terms, said the report, which was rejected by Nasheed.

The Constitution was precisely followed as prescribed and President Waheed properly succeeded Nasheed, it said.

Nasheed has been maintaining that he was removed in a coup and urging India to recognise this.

India has underlined that it "is essential for all stakeholders to demonstrate a sense of responsibility in respecting the outcome of the Commission's report, and to express views" on it with calm and restraint.

In a statement, its External Affairs Ministry said, "actions that might adversely impact on the atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in the Maldives need to be avoided."

India hopes that all political parties in the Maldives would take up the issues arising out of the inquiry commission's report through a peaceful political dialogue, to make a way forward for resolving the political situation in the country.

The CONI findings have dealt a blow to Nasheed's MDP party, which was banking on the commission to press ahead with its claims of illegitimacy on the part of Waheed's administration. As soon as the report was released, Nasheed's supporters resumed street protests.

The five-member Commission included Justice G P Selvam, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore; Sir Bruce Robertson from New Zealand; and John Packer from Canada. It sat for over six months and interviewed 293 people.