The Maldives have sealed off the country's parliament and arrested two opposition lawmakers amid a deepening crisis over President Abdulla Yameen's refusal to release jailed politicians.
Top court of the island had overturned convictions against nine dissidents, including exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed, on Thursday. But President Yameen allegedly refused to release them.
Later, the opposition lawmakers petitioned the parliament to remove the island nation's attorney general and its chief prosecutor for breaking the law by failing to act on a Supreme Court ruling.
Some opposition lawmakers had managed to enter the parliament after climbing over the wall.
Despite lines of soldiers in-front of the parliament gates, lawmakers had been allowed to enter.
The united opposition lawmakers had headed to the parliament moments after its long serving secretary general Ahmed Mohamed suddenly announced his resignation.
Then the security forces sealed off the parliament and arrested two opposition legislators.
The top court's verdict has plunged the Maldives into fresh political turmoil and dealt a major blow to Yameen, who is accused of corruption, misrule and rights abuses. He denies the allegations.
The ruling also gave the opposition a majority in the 85-member parliament as it reinstated 12 members of parliament who were stripped of their seats last year.
Al Jazeera said, two of the 12 were arrested at the airport on Sunday, shortly after they returned to the Maldives after months in exile.