Three MPs arrested as police allege violent coup attempt

Opposition MPs Mariya Ahmed Didi, Mohamed Ameeth and Ali Hussain were arrested along with former environment minister Mohamed Aslam from the gathering on the capital’s main thoroughfare, according to the Maldivian Democratic Party.

Five female protesters pepper sprayed at close range were also taken to hospital with the help of Red Crescent volunteers.

Accusing the opposition of disrupting public order and inciting violence “with the sole purpose of overthrowing the lawfully elected government,” police said in a statement that nine people were taken into custody “for obstruction of justice and for being unruly” in addition to one individual suspected of dousing a policeman with used engine oil.