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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Police detained four lawyers and four activists for taking part in an illegal march at Jalan Tun Perak here this morning.

They started the march from the Sogo Shopping Complex at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to the Bar Council building at Jalan Raja here.

Dang Wangi Deputy OCPD Supt Che Hamzah Che Ismail said they were arrested under Section 27 (5) of the Police Act 1967 for illegal assembly.

He said the lawyers and activists were taken to the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters for questioning.

"The organiser did not apply for a police permit to hold an assembly. The lawyers and activists also defied police orders to disperse," he told reporters.

A group of 50 people including lawyers, activists, bloggers and members of non-governmental organisations started gathering in front of the shopping complex since 7.30am.

The gathering is not only unlawful as they did not have a police permit but they had also snubbed the Bar Council's decision to cancel the assembly very much earlier.

The marchers, wearing surgical masks, started their "Peace Walk" half-an-hour later, passing through Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman towards the Bar Council building, about 2km away, to mark World Human Rights Day tomorrow.

About 100 policemen were seen stationed along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman till Jalan Raja as early as 7am to ensure the situation was under control.

However, there was some commotion when police ordered them to disperse as they were passing through Jalan Tun Perak in front of the old court building.

Irked by the police order, an argument ensued between the marchers and policemen, leading to the arrest of the lawyers and activists.

In the midst of the argument, some members of the group proceeded to walk to the Bar Council building.

Meanwhile, Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenavasan said she was disappointed with the police for detaining eight people, including four lawyers, for participating in the peaceful walk.

She said the people should be given the freedom to assemble peacefully.

"I believe it would have been a peaceful march if not for the police presence," she said.

Ambiga was seen at the entrance to the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters at about 10.30am presumably to negotiate the release of the eight people detained.

However, she was denied entry as police did not want her to interfere with investigations.

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