COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Police in the Maldives dispersed opposition protesters for a second straight day Saturday, using tear gas and pepper spray and arresting more than a dozen demonstrators demanding the release of a former president and other jailed political leaders.
After Friday’s protest was shut down, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party vowed to regroup Saturday, saying it was within its legal rights to continue the protests because police had unilaterally withdrawn from agreed-upon terms for a 72-hour demonstration.
The party is demanding the release from jail of former President Mohamed Nasheed, ex-Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim and opposition leader Sheik Imran Abdulla, as well as the end of court actions against 1,700 political activists.
It says the actions against the leaders and activists are part of a political vendetta by the current President Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
Police used pepper spray Friday night to disperse protesters as they prepared for a street march. They also cut off electricity for the campaign site.
