Three arrested after MDP office raid

Special Ops officers stormed the MDP office Thursday afternoon while a daily advisory committee meeting was taking place and arrested former MP Ilyas Labeeb, Ahmed Shahid and Ahmed Hassan.

According to party officials, police refused to disclose charges saying the arrests were made under the ongoing state of emergency.

President Abdulla Yameen invoked emergency powers last month, suspending constitutional rights and granting sweeping powers to police. He cited the need for investigating a plot to remove him from office after the Supreme Court ordered the release of nine prisoners.

MDP vice president Mohamed Shifaz and several council members are also in custody following their arrests from opposition protests since the February 1 apex court order.