Several dozen protesters shouted "Reformasi" (Reform) andheld up pictures of Mahathir's detained former deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, outside a mosque in the heart of the capital.

They strung up banners saying "Mahathir Step Down" and"Justice for Anwar" in the Kampung Baru section of Kuala Lumpur, where 14 people were injured in clashes with police last month.

There were no police near the mosque in Kampung Baru, amostly Malay neighbourhood where more than 240 protesters were arrested on October 24 in the most violent demonstration since Anwar was arrested on September 20.Twelve protesters and two police were injured in clashes during that demonstration involving more than 2,000 people who set bonfires and hurled stones.

In a nearby shopping district on Saturday, several dozenparamilitary troopers stood guard near a water cannon truck. The district, near Kampung Baru, has been the site of several anti-government protests.

Anwar was arrested after leading 30,000 protesters through the capital calling on Mahathir to step down after 17 years in power. He is detained in jail after pleading not guilty to 10 charges of corruption and sodomy.

Mahathir reiterated in an interview published by the official Bernama news agency on Saturday that he thought Anwar's supporters wanted to topple the government with riots.

"Their hope is actually to have large-scale riots throughout the country and with that, the government would fall, and when the government falls, there will be no trials. And when there are no trials, sensitive matters will not be exposed," he said.

An elderly Kampung Baru resident, holding a placard marked"Reformasi" and bearing a picture of Anwar, denounced Mahathir.

"If Mahathir stays in power any longer, he'll even sell off Kampung Baru," the 70-year-old man toldReuters. Mahathir, 72, has been in power since 1981.

Anwar, who was sacked on September 2, appeared in court later that month with a black eye he said he suffered in a beating while in police custody.Pictures of him stirred international indignation and prompted several foreign leaders to speak out in his defence.

The latest street protest came as thousands of officials from the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathered in Kuala Lumpur.

Ministers were holding weekend meetings ahead of the two-day APEC summit starting on Tuesday.

Two Canadian cabinet ministers met Anwar's wife on Saturday in a snub to Malaysia's government over his treatment.

Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Trade Minister SergioMarchi met Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at a hotel in a show of solidarity with Anwar, whom Axworthy called a political detainee.

"Clearly we've expressed concerns very early on about the treatment of Anwar and other people who have been politically detained," Axworthytold reporters after the lunch.

Wan Azizah said her husband was pleased she had met the Canadian officials. "We're very happy and encouraged by the fact that we have been given a positive response," she said.

The ministers defied Malaysia's blunt warning that meetings with Wan Azizah amounted to meddling in the country's affairs.

Mahathir said he did not want Anwar discussed at the summit.

"Everyone of us have got political problems. So there's no one who is not guilty of some political abuse," he told Bernama.

U.S. President Bill Clinton and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien have said they will not hold bilateral meetings with Mahathir to show their concern over Anwar.