A regional human rights organisations with more than 40 members across Asia has strongly condemned the "brutal" crackdown on Bersih 2.0 protesters yesterday.

NONE The Bangkok-based Forum-Asia,  which described the rally as "peaceful", said it was extremely alarmed that there had been reports of alleged police violence on the protestors.

"Such police brutality must not be condoned. We demand the police officers that committed such abuse of powers be investigated and brought to justice," said the NGO's executive director Yap Swee Seng.

Yap was referring to reports that tear gas canisters were fired directly at the crowd and injured many.

Among the injured were parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and his bodyguard.

PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad was allegedly hit by a canister at the back of his head.

NONE There were also reports and video footage of protestors being kicked and manhandled during the arrest process.

Inspector-general of police Ismail Omar had yesterday defended the force's use of tear gas and water cannons,  claiming that they were provoked into action and used only "minimal" force to disperse the protesters.

He explicitly denied claims that police had injured senior Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including Anwar, by firing tear gas canisters directly at the crowd assembled at KL Sentral.

Ismail also said 1,401 people were arrested for taking part in illegal rallies and defying police orders to disperse.

He estimated the crowd at between 5,000 and 6,000. As at 5pm, 1,273 men, 115 women and 13 minors had been detained.

Independent reports estimated as many as 50,000 people had turned up for the rally calling for clean and fair elections.

NONE Meanwhile, Yap said the refusal of the Malaysian government to address the issue through dialogue and its reversed decision to prevent the organisers to hold the rally in a stadium including the crackdown yesterday shows the police has been "abused" to maintain the authorities in power.

"The Malaysian government had no intention at all to allow any democratic challenge to its powers. Instead, the police force is abused to maintain that%2