Hundreds of peace activists will hold an anti-war demonstration o­n Saturday as part of a global movement opposing a possible US attack o­n Iraq.

PAS youth chief Mahfuz Omar said today that some 1,000 people comprising opposition members and activists would gather outside the US embassy.

"It will be an anti-war demonstration to condemn the US government for their (planned) aggression," he told AFP .

"I will speak at the gathering," said Mahfuz, who is also an opposition lawmaker.

A similar protest would also be held in Penang o­n Saturday, organisers said.

Global protest

S Arutchelvan, spokesman for rights group Suaram, told AFP that organisers would collect anti-war signatures during the gathering.

"We'll be part of the global protest against the war in Iraq. We'll also get people to sign our petition for peace," he said.

Arutchelvan said organisers would not apply for a police permit for the protest despite a ban o­n public gatherings in Malaysia. Police can consider a gathering of five or more people as illegal.

"Even though the US embassy will be closed o­n Saturday, we think it is symbolic to hold the protest there," he added. The embassy is o­nly open for official business during the weekdays.

Anti-war protests launched by the international Stop the War Coalition will be held o­n Saturday in 306 cities worldwide.

Another rally

Organisers of a peace campaign launched last month in Malaysia have collected more than a million signatures of people opposed to a US attack o­n Iraq. They said would also hold a peace rally, o­n Feb 23.

The activists, led by the youth wing of the ruling Umno, will hand the petition to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is chairing the Non-Aligned Movement summit here from Feb 20-25.

The Malaysian government has objected to any unilateral action against Iraq and insisted that any action must be made through the United Nations.

Mahathir has repeatedly warned that an attack o­n Iraq would hurt the fight against international terrorism, inflame Muslim anger and increase the number of recruits to terrorist ranks.