Hundreds arrested as clashes erupt in Maldives

The Maldivian police have arrested three opposition leaders and over 200 people after violent clashes erupted between the police and protestors in the early hours of Saturday as thousands took the streets of the capital Male demanding the release of former Leader Mohamed Nasheed.

In a massive May Day rally organized by the opposition Maldivian parties, thousands of people who took to the streets clashed with the police as they tried to break their way through a cordon of police officers who were protecting the military headquarters in Male.

They were later fired with tear gas and allegedly beaten up by police and several people were seen being dragged into police trucks.

Over 7000 protestors who marched on the streets on Friday, accused President Abdulla Yameen of illegally jailing former President Nasheed and others who he sees as political threats and demanded for their immediate release.

The police however in a statement on Saturday said that the rally was not a peaceful demonstration and an investigation had been launched into its organizers.

Police Superintendent Abdulla Nawaz said that while the police had given room for a peaceful demonstration, opposition supporters had clashed with the police.

The police had claimed that protesters had entered government buildings and had continued to defy law enforcement officers' instructions.

"We will not tolerate any similar acts and we will act with zero tolerance from here on out," he said.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison last month after being found guilty of terrorism for ordering the arrest of a judge when he was in power in 2012.

His arrest has sparked continuous protests in the island nation with protesters demanding for his immediate release.