At least a thousand PAS members armed with flags, banners and posters marched to the US embassy at Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur today protesting what they felt was the continuing Israeli aggression against Palestinian people as well as US support for the Zionist state.

The march, led by party vice-presidents Mohamad Sabu and Dr Hassan Ali, saw the participants chanting the party's support for Palestine and its elected government, Hamas.

Other smaller groups also participated in the march which began at about 2pm several kilometres away from the embassy at the Tabung Haji headquarters, also along Jalan.Tun Razak.

The groups included the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim), the Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM), human rights group Suaram and the Malaysian Youth and Students Democratic Movement (Dema).

Besides chanting slogans, PAS members also brandished banners and posters painted with the words 'Liberation is our first qiblah', 'Bush and Olmert are world terrorists', 'Go to hell Zionists and 'We support Hamas'.

The march disrupted traffic flow on both lanes of Jalan Tun Razak for over an hour when drivers slowed down to pick up the distributed posters and brochures. A number of motorists honked their support.

Police deployed at least 150 members of the Light Strike Force and two anti-riot water cannon vehicles but they were not needed.

Memo handed over

In speeches upon arrival at the US embassy gates, the two PAS vice-presidents said the "United States should be condemned for their continuing hypocrisy in the Middle East."

"We will give (US Secretary of State) Condoleeza Rice something to think about. We will also give her boss something to think about," Sabu said with the aid of a megaphone.

Rice is expected fly into the country to attend the ASC - Asian Regional Section (ARS) - regional meeting to be held in Kuala Lumpur from July 27.

Former PAS youth chief and Parliamentary representative Salahuddin Ayub said the party wanted the United Nations, the OIC and the Non-Aligned Movement to call for an urgent meeting to 'improve the situation' in the Middle East as soon as possible.

After the speeches were delivered, the marchers burned an Israeli flag and efigy of US President George Bush. PAS representatives then handed over a memorandum to US embassy officials at the embassy's main entrance. The marchers then dispersed peacefully.

Contacted later, the embassy's press attache Kathryn Taylor said the embassy would maintain its security levels. "The protest was certainly the biggest this year," she said.

Today's protest march follows several organised around the world following the death of over 20 Palestinians during an Israeli military push into the Gaza Strip two nights ago.

The Israeli manoeuvre followed a recent Palestinian militia missile attack on the Israeli city of Ashkelon,