Riot police fired a few rounds of tear gas into the crowd just as Barisan Alternatif leaders ended their speeches near the Kemuning toll gate of Kesas Highway, the access point to Jalan Kebun in Shah Alam where reformasi supporters originally planned to meet.

Keadilan president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PAS president Fadzil Mohd Noor, DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang and PRM president Syed Husin Ali had earlier delivered their impromptu speeches from the highway divider.

A tear gas canister fell in front of Syed Husin, but malaysiakini learnt that while the BA leaders were affected by the acrid fumes, they are unhurt.

About 20 rounds of tear gas, and water laced with chemicals, were fired into the estimated 5,000-strong crowd to disperse the protestors.

The four leaders had earlier marched from after their entourage was caught in a massive traffic jam stretching some five kilometres. Wan Azizah, who has earlier injured one of her foot at home, is on wheelchair.

Protestors, unable to drive their cars, left them behind and walked with their leaders to the toll gate.

The tear gas assault has forced the protestors to leave the area and some are seen heading home.

Earlier today, police were seen smashing the windows, head and backlights of cars driven by reformasi supporters (photo). A car was also towed away with its occupants inside when they refused to budge after they were ordered to leave.

Also eyewitnesses saw police letting the air out of the tyres of a number of cars parked along the highway.

A diskette belonging to a malaysiakini journalist containing digital photos, among others, of a person who was bleeding from a head wound, was confiscated by the police. Photos by Mohd Ali Syed Husin