Bersih 2 Rally

MALAYSIAN police arrested more than 400 people today and used tear gas as a massive lockdown was imposed on the capital to thwart an opposition-backed rally demanding electoral reforms.

Despite the detentions, about 1500 people, many of them shouting Reformasi (Reforms) and God is Great marched towards a mosque near the downtown Merdeka Square, an AFP reporter saw.

Prime Minister Najib Razak has defended tough police action against the rally and denied Malaysia was moving away from democracy.

A number of international locations including Melbourne, Sydney, London, HK, Taipei, Osaka and Singapore held peaceful demonstrations in support of Bersih 2.0

See the pictures of the Global Bersih rallies here.