By our correspondent in Male’

The gathering planned for commercial port area on Tuesday afternoon could not take off because MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) was prevented from going to the area. The police chased Anni down Majeedhee Magu of Male’. He was taken into police custody near the National Library but was later released. A large force of the elite Star Team gathered around Anni, while the crowd called to release him.

Tension was high as riot police confronted people in the main road of Male’. The scene had similarities with riots that took place in Male’ earlier this year especially near the Mercury Light area.

There are reports that people are now converging near the Artificial Beach of Male’.

Earlier in the day, Coast Guard intercepted a dhoni traveling from Addu with people wishing to participate in the November 10 demonstration. Coast Guard’s naval vessel Huravee, which is a gift from India, allegedly came 5 feet near the dhoni, almost capsizing the smaller vessel. Despite threats to sink the dhoni, Addu people did not agree to give up. However, they remained stranded without fuel and water, moored near an uninhabited island close to Kolamaafushi in Gaafu Alifu Atoll. Coast Guard prevented a dhoni from Kolamaafushi from supplying fuel and water to the Addu dhoni.