A coalition of rights groups today urged Malaysia to release 68 Burmese pro-democracy activists arrested last week outside the Burma embassy for protesting the detention of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"We call for the immediate release of the 68 Myanmar (Burmese) nationals arrested," the Asia-Pacific Solidarity Coalition (Apsoc) said in a statement.

The protestors were arrested as they peacefully gathered outside the embassy on June 16 in a symbolic celebration of the 60th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi. Public gatherings without a permit are illegal in Malaysia.

Apsoc, a coalition of 15 rights groups across the Asia-Pacific region, said the detainees could be charged for unlawful assembly as well as immigration violations if their travel documents were not in order.

Malaysia's tough immigration laws allows for caning, a fine and up to five years in jail if found guilty.

Monitored by UNHCR

Volker Turk, head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia, said that the agency was monitoring the situation.

"We will try to resolve the case," he told AFP , adding that UNHCR had met with the detainees.

The arrests come as Malaysia prepares to assume the chair of the Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) at the end of this year.

Asean has been dogged by criticism that it has not taken enough action to convince military-ruled Burma to proceed with democratic reforms.

Burma is next in line to take over the alphabetically rotating chair of the 10-member Asean from Malaysia next year.