Opposition parties and non-governmental groups are planning two more anti-government rallies to protest a sharp hike in petrol prices.

"We are planning more protests, on the 19th and 26th (of March)," Ronnie Liu, a leader of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP), told AFP .

The March 19 protest is part of a global day of action against the invasion and occupation of Iraq while the March 26 demonstration is expected to be led by Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).

The protests are being held during the weekends in order to draw larger crowds for what is becoming a series of anti-government rallies in a country where such displays are rare.

On Friday, armed police fired a water cannon to break up an anti-government rally after protesters campaigning against the fuel price increase defied orders to disperse.

Demonstrators were forced to flee the landmark Petronas Twin Towers where some 800 people had staged a sit-in, pursued by dozens of riot police firing the cannon.

Second protest in two weeks

The protest was the second in two weeks, and organisers have demanded that the nation's leaders either resign or reverse a recent fuel price hike.

Last week the price of petrol and diesel was raised by 30 sen per litre to RM1.92 and RM1.58 respectively in the biggest of four hikes since May 2004.

In less than two years, petrol prices have gone up by 40 percent while diesel by 102 percent.

Pump prices remain lower than in neighbouring nations, but the move touched off public outrage. Malaysia is a net oil exporter, public transport is poor and people are dependent on their vehicles.

Taken aback by the reaction, the government has embarked on a public-relations offensive to justify the rises and said it would announce measures to offset the effects.

PHOTO GALLERY - Fuel price hike protest