Protests in Maldives resume

The protests against escalating commodity prices have resumed in Maldives after days of suspension, local media said Saturday.

Protestors gathered at the capital Male Friday night in a small scale and the rally which lasted for two and a half hours ended peacefully, local media said.

The organisers said the government showed no sincerity in the talks held recently and much more protests would take place if no agreement is reached in the last round of talks to be held on Sunday.

Maldives had seen eight consecutive nights of street protests since 30 April, which the organisers said were to mark public anger against the economic policy by President Mohamed Nasheed’s government.

However Ahmed Naseem, the foreign minister described the demonstrations as politically motivated and orchestrated by opposition Z-DRP party of former Maldivian president Abdul Gayoom.

Dismissing economy as the reason for the protests, Naseem said there were indications that the protests had nothing to do with the economy and everything to do with a political struggle.