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Police used force to disperse large crowds of people taking to the streets of the Maldives capital city Male in support of former President Mohamed Nasheed, Maldives television showed on Saturday (February 16).
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) accused police of using 'disproportionate force' against demonstrators when attempting to quell protests, Minivan News reported on Saturday.
The HRCM said the force used by police had resulted in 'different levels of injury and damage'.
Demonstrations continued into Sunday (February 17) as thousands took to the streets of the capital carrying flags and banners in support of Nasheed.
Nasheed, the Maldives' first democratically elected leader, who left office last year in contested circumstances, entered the Indian High Commission in the capital on Wednesday (February 13) as police tried to arrest him in connection with a court case.
His supporters say Nasheed was ousted last February in a coup.
Local media said there were some clashes between supporters and police, the latest such unrest in the Indian Ocean archipelago which is best known as a luxury holiday destination.
A court had ordered Nasheed's arrest after he missed a Feb. 10 court appearance in a case relating to accusations that he illegally detained a judge during the last days of his rule.
Despite a statement by a government spokesman on Thursday (February 14) that Nasheed no longer faced arrest, Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has said he would remain in the embassy because of the danger he faced.
