By Robin Brant
BBC News, Kuala Lumpur
Protesters face police cordon Kuala Lumpur - 10/11/2007
There was a heavy police presence in central Kuala Lumpur
Malaysian police have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse
thousands of protesters who were marching in Kuala Lumpur to demand
electoral reform.
The event was organised by a group called Bersih which is made up of
opposition parties and dozens of non-governmental organisations.
The marchers were prevented from entering central Merdeka Square
because police said they did not have a permit.
Police estimated the crowd at between 10-30,000 people.
Rising tension
Heavy rains could not stop the marchers as they made their way along
the roads on the side of Merdeka Square.
Many of them were in the yellow shirts which organisers had asked them
to wear.
Water cannon spray protesters in Kuala Lumpur - 10/11/2007
Tension has been high in Malaysia ahead of the march
They were calling for changes to the electoral process in Malaysia to
prevent fraud.
One demand is to use indelible ink to show who has voted.
Tension had been rising over the past few days with the prospect of
violent confrontation at the march.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said on Friday that he expected
trouble, despite the police ban.
But participants told the BBC they had the democratic right to express
their demands.
"We don't have to wait until election day, that's five years or more,"
one demonstrator told the BBC.
There was a heavy police presence and rally organisers said 20 people
were arrested.
Although no one made it into the central square, a small group did
march to the national palace, home of Malaysia's king, to present a
memorandum detailing their concerns.
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