Sri Lanka gives emergency powers to military after violent clashes killed 8 | Pics

Sri Lanka gave emergency powers on Tuesday to its military and police to detain people without warrants.

This comes after a day of clashes that killed seven people and injured more than 200.

The violence prompted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry on Tuesday said those found damaging public property or harming others could be shot, after a day of clashes that killed eight.

Many Rajapaksa supporters, armed with iron bars, stormed a camp of those protesting against the government, beating them and setting fire to their tents.

Protesters and a key trade group in Sri Lanka called for a new government to take control as the president called for calm.