Teargas and riot shields as government urges restraint after court ruling
The defence minister said it could be a time of a national security crisis, as hundreds of people filled the capital’s streets to celebrate the imminent freedom of opposition leaders.
02 Feb 2018, 9:00 AM
Special Ops used teargas to disperse opposition supporters celebrating the imminent release of political leaders, including former president Mohamed Nasheed, as the government urged restraint following a Supreme Court ruling.
Officers with riot shields on one of Malé’s main roads told people not to take part in any protests and asked everyone to immediately leave.
“We will use force and will not be responsible for any damage inflicted by using force,” they said, according to a Maldives Independent reporter at the scene. “People are screaming at them,” said the reporter. “Their pickup just started driving into the rally.”
Teargas was used to break up crowds who had been filling the capital’s streets since late Thursday evening. Another Maldives Independent reporter saw people being manhandled to the floor and led away. The reporter counted four arrests.
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