Malaysian police turn tear gas, water cannons on protesters

Rare opposition demonstration broken up savagely by authorities
Malaysian police unleashed tear gas and water cannons on protesters Saturday as tens of thousands defied a government ban and rallied in the capital to call for clean and fair elections.

Leading human rights group Suaram said 23 demonstrators were arrested at the rally, which took place despite police efforts to close down the city centre with roadblocks.

Some 30,000 protesters eventually massed outside Malaysia’s royal palace, led by opposition leaders including dissident former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, as they faced off against hundreds of riot police.

Earlier at a downtown mosque that served as a meeting point for protesters, tear gas and cannons were used to disperse a large crowd, police and demonstrators said.