Malaysian police arrested 160 Myanmar citizens Monday for protesting outside their country's embassy against the military junta's alleged discrimination against Christians.
Authorities detained the demonstrators after they chanted anti-junta slogans for about 30 minutes and defied police orders to disperse, said a spokeswoman for Malaysian human rights group Suaram.
The protesters could be charged with violating a rule requiring a police permit for gatherings of more than three people. Those without valid immigration documents could be deported.
Police confirmed the arrests, but provided no details.
The Kuala Lumpur Embassy of Myanmar (known as Burma till 1989) was recently rebuilt after three men armed with firebombs, machetes and an ax set it ablaze last April. Police arrested the attackers, who are members of Myanmar's Rohingya ethnic Muslim minority.
Predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, ruled by the military since 1962, also includes followers of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and animism.
The U.S. State Department said last year that Myanmar continues to discriminate against members of minority religions and restricts their educational, proselytizing, and building activities.