KUANTAN: Tears flowed at the Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) mosque here when 1,500 gathered for Friday prayers yesterday.

An ustaz moved the crowd to tears with an historical account of how Israel has been torturing Palestinians, including killing babies and children, since 1948.

After prayers, the congregation was joined by female undergraduates outside the mosque holding placards and posters which read, "Stop Supporting Child Killers" and "Ban Terrorists".

This outpouring of support for Gazans and anger at Israel was repeated all over the country after Friday prayers. The congregations also condemned the US for supporting the Zionist state.

At the International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus, some 3,000 undergraduates held a demonstration, carrying baby dolls to reflect the situation in Gaza.
In Kuala Lumpur, a 5,000-strong group marched from Tabung Haji Complex to the US embassy to protest the country's support of Israel.

The protesters, under the banner of Coalition of Malaysian NGOs Against Persecution of Palestinians (Complete) carried the effigies of US President George W. Bush and Israeli President Shimon Peres.

They shouted Jahanam Israel (Damn Israel) and Mampus Israel (Die Israel).

More than 100 policemen and Federal Reserve Unit members monitored the crowd.

Some protesters threw their shoes on the street to imitate the act of Iraqi journalist Muntazer Al-Zaidi who hurled his shoes at Bush during Bush's visit to Baghdad.

Complete, the umbrella body for 127 NGOs, began marching after Friday prayers and solat hajat at a mosque in Tabung Haji to hand a memorandum to the embassy.

"We urge the US to demand that Israel cease their hostilities against Palestinians and withdraw their army without any preconditions," said Complete chairman Adnan Mohd Tahir after handing over the memorandum.

The crowd, which earlier burnt some effigies and Israeli flags on their way to the embassy, did the same again after the handover.

In George Town, more than a thousand people gathered in front of the Masjid Kapitan Keling for the same purpose.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Consumers Association of Penang president Mohamed SM Idris also joined the crowd.

Lim said the US must be responsible for supporting Israel's offensive in Gaza.

In Butterworth, more than 200 people gathered at the Seberang Prai Utara district mosque to protest the Israeli aggression.

The gathering was organised by Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIM) and supported by State Belia 4B, Gabungan pelajar Melayu Semenanjung and Tasek Gelugor Umno Youth.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 Universiti Sains Malaysia undergraduates and staff gathered at the campus near Masjid Al-Malik Khalid to show their support for the Palestinians.

The gathering began at 12.30pm with the collection of signatures to demand the Israelis stop the invasion. It also drafted a memorandum to be sent to leaders of the Organisation of Islamic Conference member countries.

In Kota Baru, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat launched a fund for the Gaza people, before setting alight posters of Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

About 1,000 people witnessed the event, which was held at Pas headquarters in Jalan Datuk Pati about 11am.