Malaysia makes more arrests ahead of election demo

The new arrests bring to 96 the number of people held since activists and opposition parties began whipping up support on Friday for the demonstration due to be staged on July 9.

"We condemn the 96 arrests as it is a violation of the freedom of expression and the right to assemble which is guaranteed under the constitution and the human rights declaration," Nalini Elunalai, coordinator for local rights group SUARAM told AFP.

"It is a weak government that resorts to fear and repression to prevent people from assembling," she added.

State police officials confirmed the arrests in northern Perak state Wednesday but declined further comment.

The activists are supporting Bersih, a coalition of opposition parties and charities aiming to reform the electoral process in Malaysia whose name derives from a Malay word meaning "clean".

A Bersih rally in July 2007 drew some 30,000 people -- making it the biggest in a decade. It was stopped by police with water cannon and tear gas.

Government leaders and police have warned people not to promote the Bersih 2.0 rally, to be held in the capital Kuala Lumpur, deeming it illegal because it has not been sanctioned by police.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011