COLOMBO: Authorities in the Maldives imposed a night curfew on the capital Male late on Saturday after a man’s death in prison sparked unprecedented street rioting, residents said.

Armed police patrolled the streets after mobs set fire to several vehicles and government buildings on the tiny capital island, whose 80,000 residents were ordered to stay indoors until Sunday morning.

Previously police had fired teargas to break up mobs in the city, which has no record of civil unrest.

The ministry of defence and national security announced over state radio and television that the curfew would be enforced from 10:00 pm on Saturday until 4:30 am Sunday.

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom also appeared on national television appealing for calm.

After the curfew announcement and the show of force by the country’s National Security Force (NSS), the situation appeared to have quietened down, a resident said.

The troubles erupted on Saturday afternoon as news reached the capital of a death in the Maafushi state prison, located on another island which is about 45 minutes away by speedboat.

"There has been one death as a result of a clash between prisoners on (Friday) at Maafushi," Maldivian Information Minister Ibrahim Manikku said. He added the relatives of the victim, a young man, serving time for a drug-related offence, had blamed police for the death.