Multiple marches in downtown KL, tear gas fired

At least five marches have broke out in Petaling Street, near Daya Bumi Complex, Masjid Jamek, Pudu and Sogo and the police have responded by firing tear gas.

LIVE REPORTS

12.20pm: Pudu Plaza - At Jalan Landak, Pudu, some 200 people have started to gather, preparing for the rally.

Police are scattered about, searching the protestors' bags and belongings without any further action.

A small quarrel breaks out between protestors and Pudu when security guards try to chase them away.

Some foodstalls and restaurants are still operating, and a durian stall is seen offering protestors a taste of their wares.

DAP leaders who have shown up include Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, PJ Utara MP Tony Pua, Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, Bukit Bendera MP Liew Ching Tong, Segambut MP Lim Lip Éng, Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham, Selangor exco Ean Yong Hian Wah, Lukut Adun Ean Yong Tin Sin, Pasir Pinjir Adun Thomas Soo, Bahau Adun Teo Kok Seong.

12.45pm: Dataran Merdeka - Police have fired tear gas at a group of protestors who are marching towards the area. The tear gas cannisters landed near the Bar Council building.

This group is believed to have marched from the former KTM headquarters nearby. The crowd is estimated at 1,000 people.

12.50pm: About 3,000 to 4,000 people are marching from Petaling Street in downtown Kuala Lumpur to Stadium Negara.

They are chanting 'Bersih, Bersih, Pilihanraya' and 'Hidup, Hidup, Rakyat'.

Six middle-aged protestors began a rendition of Negaraku, which immediately received a strong response from the crowd, which sing along.

Dr Wong Fort Pin, one of the six singers, said they are celebrating peace.

"We are walking for a better Malaysia," he said.

12.51pm:
Hilton Hotel - PKR leaders Nurul Izzah Anwar, Syed Husin Ali, Lateefah Koya arrive in Anwar Ibrahim's hotel room. Local and foreign media are at the lobby.

12.55pm: Pudu Plaza - DAP leader Teresa Kok is defying her ban and leading protesters to start the march towards Merdeka Stadium.

The crowd is shouting, "Bersih, bersih," "Hidup rakyat" , "Rakyat sudah bangun," and "Daulat Tuanku."

The have at press time reached Shaw Parade, with no sign yet of any police interference.

1pm: Masjid Jamek - The crowd here has grown to about 1,000 people and the are beginning to march.

Earlier, a student was hit by a tear gas cannister. He refused to have his photograph taken due to his status.

1.10pm: Masjid Negara - The mosque is mostly empty. Some are complaining that the toilets are locked.

1.14pm: A fake Twitter account @bersihrally have appeared, apparently created only at 9.42 this morning.

Claiming to provide "live coverage of the Bersih 2.0 rally, with multiple small groups of volunteers in the field reporting" it has since provided false accounts of the goings-on at the current Bersih 2.0 rally.

Among some of the allegations are looting in Pasar Seni, clashes with the police at KLCC as well as shots being fired in Bangsar.

After being 'outed' by other Twitter users, @bersihrally finally posted a message: "Took you guys long enough to figure it out. I've done my job. Thanks for playing."

1.15pm: Official police figures - 514 arrested. 478 males, 36 females.

1.20pm: Masjid Jamek - There is a standoff here. The growing crowd continues chanting while the police are awaiting reinforcements.

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