Protests rock Maldives’ parliament, MDP blocks president’s opening address

The Maldivian parliament yesterday witnessed unruly scenes as lawmakers from former president Mohammed Nasheed's party disrupted proceedings and prevented the new president from delivering his maiden address, in what was described as a "sad day" in the country's history.

The protests spilled into the streets in the capital as high drama was witnessed in the Majlis, with the political crisis in the country deepened.

The proceedings of the Majlis started on a stormy note and even before president Mohammed Waheed arrived at parliament chambers, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members took away his chair as also that of his cabinet ministers and shouted slogans demanding his resignation.

Waheed, who was to open the session could not deliver his address and had to  retreat to the waiting room.

As per the constitution, in Maldives, after a change in leadership, the president addresses the lawmakers to officially open a new parliamentary session.

According to speaker Abdulla Shahid, he was mobbed to the ground by the agitating lawmakers and sustained injuries, in what he described as "very sad day" in the history of the Majlis.