Opposition defies police protest curfew

Opposition supporters remained on the streets Sunday night in defiance of a 10:30 pm protest curfew announced by the police earlier in the day.

Some protesters, including a 70-year-old female activist, were taken into custody when riot police moved to disperse the crowd at a busy intersection of the capital’s main thoroughfare.

Special Ops police also cleared out the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party and Jumhooree Party meeting halls.

The police spokesman declared Sunday afternoon that political gatherings on the streets or party meeting halls will be stopped without exception. Superintendent Ahmed Shifan told the press that several complaints have been lodged about disruption to public order due to the nightly demonstrations, alleging that protesters were openly calling for attacks against security forces.