(AFP) Thousands of opposition supporters, defying a police ban, rallied Saturday in the Malaysian capital to show sympathy with jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim and call for reforms.

Some 400 regular officers and riot police, backed up by water cannon, were on standby in the city centre but did not try to disperse the crowd, estimated by witnesses at some 2,000-3,000 people.

The rally at the offices of the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) was called to mark "Black 14" - the second anniversary of Anwar's first conviction.

The former deputy premier, once the heir apparent to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, is serving a total of 15 years in jail for abuse of power and sodomy but says he is a political prisoner.

A delegation led by Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail presented a 10-point "People's Memorandum" on rights abuses to the commission as supporters held a peaceful protest outside.

Police had declared the gathering illegal and threatened tough action against anyone taking part.

Speakers condemned this week's arrest of seven Anwar supporters under the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial.

"Free all political prisoners" read one placard.

'Plan to use explosives'

Mahathir has defended the use of the ISA, saying police have evidence that activists were planning to use explosives during violent protests.

"The government is aware that some quarters plan to stage riots using explosives and other things to topple the government," he said yesterday.

"We know that they have gone to a neighbouring country (Indonesia) and told their friends there that they wished to carry out what happened in that country ... riots caused by irresponsible people to topple the (Suharto) government."

Speakers today ridiculed the assertions. "Do you see any weapons? Do you see any explosives?" one asked the crowd.

In a separate statement Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the Democratic Action Party, urged national police chief Norian Mai to produce evidence that the activists planned to use weapons during militant protests.

"We want peace, we want justice, no ISA," the crowd chanted.

The use of the ISA - designed to fight a communist rebellion half a century ago - has been criticised by Amnesty International and local rights groups including Suhakam itself.

Leading members of the women's wing of the Gerakan party, a member of Mahathir's ruling coalition, have joined in the criticism.

People's memorandum

The "People's Memorandum" accuses the government of "violating human rights and fundamental liberties" and moving towards a dictatorship.

It calls for guaranteed freedom of speech, of assembly and of the press; protection for judicial independence; the abolition of "tyrannical laws" like the ISA and others; investigations into corruption, cronyism and nepotism; and a probe into allegations of police brutality and favouritism.

The memo was presented by a delegation of opposition legislators, non-governmental organisations and wives of some of the seven detainees. They also handed in a boxful of cards in support of Anwar.

Members of the women's wing of Wan Azizah's National Justice Party presented an appeal that Anwar be allowed to undergo surgery overseas.

He has been in hospital since November 25 with a slipped disc, which he blames partly on a 1998 assault by the then-police chief.

The government insists he undergo surgery in Kuala Lumpur Hospital, with specialists and equipment flown in if necessary.

Anwar says Mahathir orchestrated a conspiracy to frame him because he was seen as a political threat. The premier denies interfering in the judicial process.

Pics by Colin Nicholas (COAC)