KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (AFP) - Thousands of Malaysians defied police warnings to
     gather in a downtown area here Saturday in a fresh anti-government protest and a noisy
     show of support for detained former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

     The protesters, shouting "Reformasi" slogans, lined a three kilometre (two mile) stretch of a
     major thoroughfare, carrying hundreds of pictures of the ousted minister and placards reading
     "Free Anwar" and "Long Live Anwar."

     More than 10,000 people, almost entirely ethnic Malays, had lined the streets by late
     afternoon, with some groups breaking into the patriotic song "Barisan Kita" traditionally sung
     by Malaysian soldiers going into battle.

     Others openly denounced Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who sacked Anwar on
     September 2 and made various allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

     Shops were closed in the area although business was still taking place at a busy market held
     on Saturday evenings.

     Some 30 policemen were monitoring the scene but there were no signs of any clashes and
     traffic was moving normally, with some cars beeping their horns in an apparent show of
     sympathy for the protestors.

     At one stage, protestors scrambled to grab dozens of audio cassettes of Anwar speeches
     which were tossed to the crowd by a passing motorist.

     On Friday police in Kuala Lumpur and the northern state of Penang warned people to avoid
     illegal gatherings and said they would crack down on those taking part, including stall
     operators and shoppers.

     "We are taking precautions to ensure there are no illegal gatherings. Anyone who flouts the
     directive will be dealt with in accordance with the law," deputy inspector-general of police
     Norian Mai was quoted as saying.

     It was unclear who had organised the mass action Saturday but there appeared to be some
     form of crowd control, with some participants urging the protestors to stay on the pavement.

     Following Anwar's arrest on September 20, police have warned against illegal gatherings --
     defined here as anything involving more than four people.

     "Despite the warnings the people still come here. The government has lost its credibility," said
     a housewife in her forties who asked not to be named.

     "Even though the gathering lacks organisation, the people are beginning to be brave. For
     Malaysians it is a giant step. We have never seen anything like this before. It is unlike Malay
     culture to be so aggressive," she added.

     "We are not afraid to be part of the gathering. We are not scared to be in a big crowd. It is
     just a verbal expression of discontent and frustration."

     An officer worker in his late twenties said the public could "no longer accept all the lies made
     by Mahathir and his cabinet.

     "Mahathir has run out of ideas. We can no longer accept his orders. This is a form of
     defiance," the young man said. "All the country's wealth has been given to his children and his
     friends. The Malaysian people have been impoverished. We hate the government and the
     leadership of Mahathir."