Another top opposition MP facing criminal charges

Opposition Jumhoory Party (JP) lawmaker MP Abdulla Riyaz is facing four different criminal charges over the chaos outside of the parliament last Monday.

After being questioned by the police on Saturday, the Kibindhoo MP told reporters that the police had accused him of violating the law in entering the parliament, obstructing the legal duty of the police officers, breaching police lines and inciting clashes with the police.

Riyaz, however, had denied the allegations made by the police and stated that he had not committed any unlawful acts.

Chief opposition lawmaker Ibrahim Mohamed Solih meanwhile is also facing the same charges over Monday's chaos.

Determined opposition lawmakers had managed to breach lines of riot police before storming the parliament.

Shortly after the parliament locked-up its gates and increased security around its premises, opposition lawmakers left the main opposition Jumhoory Party (JP) camp in Maafannu ward on foot to the parliament.

However, riot police armed with shields had blocked off the lawmakers a few meters from the JP camp before allowing them to march to the parliament.

The lawmakers with hundreds of supporters marched to the parliament before they were again blocked off by police. The MPs then rushed towards the police lines with several successfully breaching the lines before a few lawmakers climbed over the wall to enter the parliament grounds.

The now united opposition had wrested parliament control from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to file a no-confidence motion against the speaker.

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.

The elder Gayoom had a major falling-out with half brother president Yameen which has seen the ruling party split into two factions. The former strongman who ruled the country for three decades before being defeated by Nasheed in the first democratic elections in 2008.