About 500 people staged a peaceful demonstration outside the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur today calling for the resignation of Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra over the violence in Southern Thailand, which left 84 dead .

The crowd gathered outside the embassy in Jalan Ampang after the Friday prayers at about 2pm. The demonstration ended an hour later.

The protestors, led by opposition leaders and representatives from non-governmental organisations and civil society, called for justice and demanded that Thaksin to take responsibility of what's been happening there.

They also submitted a memorandum condemning the use of disproportionate force by the Thai security forces.

"The act of transporting those arrested in crammed military trucks knowing full well that the civilians who are Thai Muslims were fasting in the month of Ramadan is an act which is dastardly inhuman," it read.

The memorandum said Thaksin must accept full responsibility for the 'atrocities-holocaust' against the people of Southern Thailand.

Independent commission

"An independent commission of inquiry under the supervision of a responsible body such as the United Nations Commissioner of Human Rights should be set up to investigate the deaths," it added.

The memorandum also stated that all military actions and exercises in the area be stopped until an independent investigation is initiated and completed.

"We further demand that peace and reconciliation methods be instituted immediately for peace in the region to prevail," it said.

PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub ( photo ), central committee member Dr.Hatta Ramli, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Dr Syed Hussin Ali, vice-president Tian Chua, Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor and NGOs Collaboration Council of Malaysia (representing 27 organistaions) acting chairperson Dr Ma'amor Osman were present.

Embassy first secretary Arapong Choldnon had initially declined to accept the memorandum. However, at about 2.45pm, five representatives were allowed to submit it.

In his speech later, Salahuddin claimed that some 5,000 people in Kota Baru (Kelantan) and 3,000 in Penang had staged similar demonstrations.

A Muslim form Southern Thailand, who had attended the demonstration, broke into tears when asked to address the crowd.

The man in his 40s told them that he had nothing to say apart from expressing his gratitude for the support given by Malaysians.

Remain calm

Meanwhile, AFP reported that in the Kelantan capital Kota Baru, PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz urged Muslims to remain calm and not resort to violence.

"We must be careful in controlling our emotion," he told his supporters at a weekly gathering.

Referring to a bombing outside a bar in the Thai border town of Sungai Kolok which killed two people on Thursday, Nik Aziz said: "The bombing is an act of vengeance. Cruelty cannot be solved by cruelty. When we use bombs or shoot people, others will also do the same to us."