Malaysian police fired tear gas and water cannon in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to break up an illegal rally by ethnic Indians demanding racial equality ahead of general elections.

More than 60 people - including two leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf, that organised the protest - have been detained in a police crackdown since late Friday, said a Hindraf member.

The group planned to hand roses and a protest note to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, but police banned the rally citing national security.

Sathiya Ujaykumar is a protester.

Today, the Hindus are gathering peacefully to just give roses to our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, but Badawi is saying that he is not going to take the flowers from us unless MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress, which is part of the ruling coalition) comes in. What is he trying to say?

Barricades were set up along main roads leading to Parliament, but more than 200 people managed to gather nearby on Saturday shouting Long Live Hindraf and We want our rights.

Police sprayed water and fired tear gas after the crowd ignored warnings to disperse.

It was the first public gathering by the group since police used tear gas and water cannon to crush a November 25 demonstration by at least 20,000 Indians in Kuala Lumpur.

The Malaysian government says it does not discriminate against ethnic Indians, who form eight percent of Malaysia's 27 million people.