Opposition alliance presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has refused to heed a police warning over a security risk ahead of his scheduled campaign visit to Gaaf Alif Atoll Kolamaafushi island.
Police had urged the veteran lawmaker to put off his visit to the island which has been marred by campaign violence the day before.
Government and opposition supporters had clashed on Wednesday leading police to arrest 18 people after party camps on both sides were vandalized.
However, Solih's campaign spokesperson Mariya Ahmed Didi described the police as hugely irresponsible insisting that the warning undermined the effectiveness of the country's military tasked with the security detail of presidential candidates.
Following the violence, the military had even boosted security for Solih, Mariya added.
She insisted that Solih would not alter plans to tour islands in Gaaf Alif and Gaaf Dhaal Atolls from Saturday.
