Malaysia hit by fresh unrest
Malaysia hit by fresh unrest
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysian police and anti-government protesters clashed for the second straight day on Monday and authorities used a sweeping law to round up allies of sacked finance minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Riot police repeatedly fired water cannon and tear gas at several thousand demonstrators who converged on a courthouse in the heart of the capital where they had expected Anwar to be arraigned. He was never produced in court.
It was a rare eruption of political tension in a country dominated for 17 years by the iron grip of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, now under unaccustomed pressure amid the nation's worst economic downturn in decades.
It took police brandishing shields more than three hours to disperse the protesters and seal off a large swathe of central Kuala Lumpur, including Merdeka (Freedom) Square where 30,000 demonstrators had congregated with Anwar on Sunday.
Malaysian police said Monday 101 anti-government protesters have been arrested since Sunday.
Undeterred, the protesters returned several hours later, only to be beaten back again by tear gas and batons. Several demonstrators said they saw one protester badly beaten and dumped into a police truck.
At the center of Merdeka Square, the huge electronic orangutan mascot of the 16th Commonwealth Games, smiled and bobbed. The games were due to be closed on Monday evening by Britain's Queen Elizabeth and some demonstrators said they would take their protest to the closing ceremony.
The arrest of Anwar on Sunday night under the Internal Security Act (ISA), followed by the rounding up of at least five political leaders and dozens of protesters, reflected Mahathir's determination to nip an incipient reform movement in the bud.
The night and day of demonstrations brought domestic political tensions to a boil and spurred wild rumors.
Rumors
Education Minister Najib Tun Razak, one of the two most senior members of Mahathir's United Malays National Organization (UMNO) other than the prime minister himself, denied rumors that he had quit the cabinet.
Jitters extended to the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, where the blue chip index fell 3.8 percent in nervous trade.
What was indisputable was that authorities were grappling with a street outburst of unexpected proportions. "We never expected this to happen," said one diplomat who watched the clashes.
The angry crowds assembled on Monday in a show of support for Anwar, who after being sacked by Mahathir on Sept. 2 launched a drive calling for an end to cronyism and corruption. He was arrested late on Sunday night when riot police stormed his suburban home.
On Monday the protesters intermittently shouted "Long Live Anwar," "Mahathir Resign", "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) and "Reformasi" (Reform).
Demonstrators distributed leaflets which said: "We demand that Dato Seri Dr Mahathir step down."
The federal police confirmed on Monday that Anwar, under investigation for sodomy, treason, corruption and other crimes which he denies, was being held under the ISA, a sweeping law that provides for detention without trial.
Police also confirmed that the head of UMNO's youth wing, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and four leaders of the Islamic Youth Movement of Malaysia (IBIM) had been arrested under the ISA.
Anwar's wife said on Monday afternoon that she had not heard from her husband since he had been arrested and that she feared for his life.
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