Police on Friday used pepper spray to block an opposition protest in the capital Male on Friday after taking several protesters into custody.
Maldives has been ravaged by fresh political strife after all opposition leaders including former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom penned a historic treaty to work against the government.
In recent weeks, the opposition has scored major victories after wresting parliament majority from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) with help of government lawmakers loyal to the deposed PPM leader Gayoom and his lawmaker son Faris Maumoon.
Hundreds of protesters clashed with police as the protest outside the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) camp in Male was blocked off.
MDP lawmaker Ali Azim and religiously conservative Adhaalath Party (AP) deputy leader Ali Zahir was among the protesters arrested.
Police said the "unannounced" protest was blocked after protesters attempted to spill out onto the streets.
