The police today unleashed their chemical-laced water cannons on some 2,000 protestors who had gathered in Kuala Lumpur to voice their anger over the recent increase in fuel prices.

The crowd was initially demonstrating in front of the iconic Twin Towers - the headquarters of national oil company Petronas - for the second straight week since the 20 percent fuel price hike was announced.

An hour later, at about 3.30pm, they decided to march to the Concorde Hotel in Jalan Sultan Ismail, about 500m away, before dispersing.

At this point, about six police officers led by Dangi Wangi deputy district police chief Mohd Rodzi Ismail tried to prevent them from moving and a minor scuffle ensued.

The protestors then barged pass Rodzi and his men. As tensions heightened, the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel were called in to disperse the angry crowd.

Contacted later, Rodzi said he initially tried to prevent the crowd from marching to Jalan Sultan Ismail by explaining to the protestors in the front row that enough time had already been given to them to express themselves and that it was an illegal gathering.

"I told them not to march but they still wanted to march," he told reporters.

He added that when his appeals were ignored, he was forced to mobilise the FRU to disperse them.

Police chase protestors

About 100 FRU personnel, armed with batons, shield and rifles, then sounded their battle cry and marched towards the protestors, now numbering at about 800.

The rest remained at the Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

When the marchers were relatively close, the baton-wielding cops began to charge, sending the protesters fleeing and seeking refuge in nearby buildings.

Following this, a water cannon truck fired away, clearing the streets of demonstrators while the police continued towards the Jalan Sultan Ismail-Jalan Ampang intersection. This area was then cordoned off, bringing traffic to a standstill.

With the police a distance away, around 300 protestors began to pour out and regrouped on the street again. They started singing reformasi-themed songs and brandished their banners and placards.

At this point, the crowd was surrounded at both ends, as more police trucks and FRU personnel moved in.

However, this time they dispersed after being ordered to do so by the police. No arrests were reported.

Swooping helicopter

Earlier, the protestors had congregated at the KLCC mosque after Friday prayers and marched towards the Petronas Twin Towers along Jalan Ampang.

Upon reaching the main entrance of the building, the crowd sat on the ground and listened to several prominent opposition and NGO leaders taking turns to denounce the government's decision to raise fuel prices across the board by 30 sen.

Over the past two years, petrol prices have increased by 40 percent while diesel by 102 percent.

The fiery speeches were met with boisterous chants of 'Hidup rakyat!' and 'Undur Pak Lah!' from the crowd. Even passing motorists joined the fray with their non-stop honking in support of the noisy but peaceful demonstration.

At its peak, the crowd swelled to about 2,000. Another 500 more curious onlookers comprising of office workers, shoppers and tourists watched the hour-long demonstration from a safe distance.

A police helicopter swooped over the protestors at a dangerously low level numerous times drowning out the voices of speakers and clothes flapped in the downwash.

While some protestors condemned this, others welcomed the blade-generated breeze in the sweltering heat.

Flag on fire

Despite the police keeping a tight watch, one protestor set a flag of the national oil company, Petronas, on fire.

Speaking to reporters later, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy information chief Badrul Hisham said the confrontations with the police were due to 'confusion'.

"But yet, the police have shown a lot of sympathy for our cause, because their families are feeling the pinch too (from the price hike)," he said.

Contacted later, PAS central committee member Dr Hatta Ramli expressed the party's regret that the FRU had charged the crowd from behind, which included women and children.

"We are wondering why the police charged at us without any provocation. It could have been a happy ending (had the FRU not moved in)," he said.

Photos by Andrew Ong, Muhammad Azlan Zamhari, K Shan and Colin Nicholas. PHOTO GALLERY