Over 140 activists were held after they defied President Yameen’s ban on rallies

Maldivian authorities arrested more than 140 activists who defied a ban on rallies, and demonstrated against a state of emergency imposed by President Abdulla Yameen, the Opposition said on Saturday.

Thousands of supporters poured into the streets ofMale on Friday and continued their protest rally till early Saturday, the joint Opposition said in a statement issued in Colombo.

“Ignoring President Yameen’s edicts banning protests, and braving police and army pepper spray and tear gas, the protests swelled to thousands strong by the early hours of Saturday,” the statement said.

It said 141 pro-democracy supporters were arrested following what it called the biggest anti-Yameen protest to rock the Maldives since May Day 2015, when similar mass arrests were carried out.

Maldivian police confirmed the latest arrests and said that 139 people, including 26 women, remained in custody on Saturday morning. Two people had been released overnight.

Police confim incident

The police also confirmed that they used pepper spray and teargas to disperse the crowds who marched through the streets.

The Opposition said that three members of Parliament were among those arrested on Friday.

Mr. Yameen is facing increasing opposition both within and outside the country since coming to power in November 2013 following a controversial run-off election against former President Mohamed Nasheed.