The Latest: Maldives capital quiet after political clashes

The streets of the Maldives capital are calm Friday morning, with offices open and people heading to work, hours after clashes broke out following a Supreme Court verdict ordering the release of political prisoners.

Opposition celebrations in Male turned into clashes with police after the Indian Ocean nation's president fired the country's police chief, whose department said it would uphold the court ruling. At least one policeman was injured in the violence, which lasted about three hours.

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10:20 a.m.

The clashes that broke out overnight in the Maldives began after the Indian Ocean nation's president fired the country's police chief, whose department said it would uphold a Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of political prisoners.

Attorney General Mohamed Anil says the police chief was fired after President Yameen Abdul Gayoom was repeatedly unable to reach him on the phone. Yameen named the police chief's deputy as interim head of the force.

After the firing was announced, clashes began between police and hundreds of flag-waving supporters of ex-President Mohamed Nasheed, who lives in exile in Britain. The court ruling could allow Nasheed, the nation's first democratically elected president, to challenge Yameen when he seeks re-election later this year.

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9:15 a.m.

The U.S. ambassador to the Maldives has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of political prisoners, including exiled ex-President Mohamed Nasheed.

Ambassador Atul Keshap wrote on Twitter: "I urge the government and security services to respect this ruling, which bolsters democracy and rule of law for all Maldivians."

Clashes broke out in Male, the capital of the Indian Ocean island nation, after the court ruling was announced Thursday night with opposition protesters demanding the release of the prisoners.

The ruling could allow Nasheed, the nation's first democratically elected president, to challenge President Yameen Abdul Gayoom when he seeks re-election later this year. Nasheed now lives in exile in Britain.