Protesters in Colombo ask Maldives President Yameen to step down

A large number of Maldivians living in Sri Lanka held a protest rally against the President Yameen government in front of Maldivian embassy in Colombo today.

They demanded the resignation of President Abdulla Yameen, military chief Major-General Ahmed Shiyam and acting police commissioner Abdulla Nawaz.

The protesters were holding banners, saying "stop intimidating and illegally arresting innocent citizens" and "Stop the killings in the country. We want a peaceful country".

They called on the authorities to release political prisoners and implement the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling on February 1.

The island nation has been facing political turmoil after the Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of jailed political leaders including self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed.

President Yameen is facing mounting international pressure after exploiting the rights suspended under emergency state to crackdown hard on the opposition as police have made a series of high profile arrests, including former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, six lawmakers, chief justice Abdulla Saeed, top court judge Ali Hameed and the chief judicial administrator.