Nasheed supporters clash in Maldives |
10,000 protesters clashed with the police in Maldives capital of Male calling for ex-president`s release. On May 1, thousands sought the release of jailed former president Mohamed Nasheed. Police used stun guns, tear gas and pepper spray to disperse crowds and stopped them from entering the high-security government zone. Thousands marched through the streets chanting "Free Nasheed". The protest was the largest since Nasheed was imprisoned in March for his role in ordering the arrest of a judge in a trial. The United Nations has said the arrest was politically motivated. The Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago of fewer than 400,000 people, is increasingly polarized between Nasheed`s supporters and those backing President Abdulla Yameen. Yameen`s government has repeatedly said Nasheed`s trial was fair, denied any political motivation and warned foreign governments against intervention.
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