Police on Thursday confirmed that 15 people had been arrested from the opposition protest including four more opposition lawmakers on Wednesday evening.
The united opposition has been carrying out nightly protests in the capital Male calling on the government to release political prisoners and enforce the Supreme Court order of February 1.
The island nation has been embroiled in fresh political turmoil after the Supreme Court on February 1 ordered the immediate release of jailed political leaders including self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed.
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on February 5 had declared a 15 day state of emergency after his last ditch attempt to convince the top court to revoke the order failed, purged the Supreme Court by arresting two judges and the remaining political leaders and ultimately had the order revoked.
As the state of emergency expired, president Yameen had got the parliament contentiously extend it by another 30 days.
President Yameen is facing mounting pressure even within the security forces after exploiting the rights suspended under emergency state to crackdown hard on the opposition as police have made a series of high profile arrests including former president Gayoom, three lawmakers, chief justice Abdulla Saeed, top court judge Ali Hameed and the chief judicial administrator.
Police spokesperson Ahmed Shifan told AVAS on Thursday that 15 people had been arrested over clashes with the police and attempts to incite violence.
Police accused of using excessive force to quell the protests had again used pepper spray and tear gas on Wednesday leaving several protesters injured while one woman was rushed to hospital.
The opposition has planned a mass protest on Friday urging people from all corners of the archipelago to flock to the capital Male to join the protest against the oppressive government.
Police had labelled the protest as an attempt to overthrow the government and vowed to maintain the peace and security in the country at all costs.
