Opposition stops Maldives president from opening Parliament

Supporters of Maldives former president prevented the countrys new leader from opening Parliament on Thursday, three weeks after he took office in a contentious power transfer.Backers of former President Mohamed Nasheeds Maldivian Democratic Party blocked roads leading to Parliament and clashed with police, who attempted to push them aside with their shields. At least three policemen were injured and a dozen protesters were arrested.The protesters then removed the seats reserved for the president and the speaker in Parliament, preventing President Mohammed Waheed Hassan from making his inaugural speech to lawmakers.According to the constitution, the president must speak to the lawmakers and officially inaugurate a new parliamentary session after a change in leadership.Nasheed resigned last month after weeks of public protests and loss of support from the military and police. He later said he was ousted in a coup and was forced to resign at gunpoint.A political stalemate has followed, with Nasheed calling Hassans government illegitimate and campaigning for early elections. Hassan, Nasheeds former deputy, says the transfer was constitutional.Maldives, a nation of 300,000 people, introduced democratic elections after 30 years of autocratic rule ended in 2008.