Police are working to obstruct participants of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) rally from marching through the main street of Male'.
MDP began the rally with more than 2,500 participants at the Artificial Beach at 9:00 pm and called on participants to march through Majeedhee Magu.
But police put up barricades and used pepper spray without warning to obstruct the rally participants from going forward.
Police have been on high alert, with hundreds of officers active across the city and traffic routes controlled. Drones have been circling above the Male' area and all prison officers are currently on duty.
