KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (AFP) - Malaysian police Monday cracked down on
supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, a day after one of
the biggest anti-government protests held here since his arrest a year
ago. State news agency Bernama said two activists, including Anwar's
former private secretary, had been detained on charges of illegal
assembly.

Another eight were being sought in connection with Sunday's rally by an
estimated 10,000 supporters at the national mosque to demand an
independent inquiry into claims Anwar was poisoned with arsenic, Bernama
said.

Meanwhile, some 5,000 people attended a youth assembly late Monday at a
field in a Moslem neighbourhood outside the city to mark the anniversary
of his arrest last September 20.

Leaders of the National Justice Party (Keadilan), headed by Anwar's wife
Wan Azizah, told the crowd they were prepared to be arrested.

Wan Azizah also delivered an upbeat message, saying her husband still
held strong to his reform agenda although his health may have been
affected by alleged arsenic poisoning.

"Anwar may look weak but his spirit is strong," she said. "Now is the
time for us to stand up to fight for justice and to eliminate
oppression."

Cries of "Reformasi" -- Anwar's rallying call for reforms -- rang
through the field as opposition leaders spoke from a makeshift stage and
video clips of Anwar's arrest were shown on a large screen.

Anwar was sacked by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad amid a falling-out
over economic policies, and arrested 18 days later as a national
security threat after leading a massive anti-government rally. He was
sentenced to six years' jail in April for corruption.

Mahathir on Monday described his former protege as an irresponsible
"number one instigator."

Anwar uses all sorts of false excuses, including the poisoning claims,
to fan anger and instigate his supporters to riot, Mahathir was cited as
saying by Bernama in northern Perlis.

"Anwar's old habit is not lost," the premier said. "Anwar is a number
one agitator. He himself has run away leaving others to face the
consequences of his incitement."

Anwar was hospitalised on September 10 and his ongoing sodomy trial
adjourned after lawyers alleged abnormally high levels of arsenic in his
urine indicated somebody might be trying to kill him.

For the first time since his sentencing in April, police Sunday used
teargas and water cannons to disperse some 10,000 supporters who
demanded royal intervention to form an independent inquiry into the
claims.

Diplomats and officials said Monday the renewed protests could force
Mahathir to shelve plans to hold an election before the year-end.

The 10th general election is not due until next June but Mahathir has
been widely expected to take advantage of an economic recovery to seek a
new mandate in November.

"The fact that we are seeing people on the streets again shows rising
political temperatures," said a European diplomat. "It is bound to upset
Mahathir's short-term plans and policies."

A government official said Sunday's demonstration had "reignited old
wounds" at a time when the ruling National Front thought the Anwar saga
was coming to a close.

"The opposition parties are trying to keep the momentum going ahead of
elections," he said. "It would throw a spanner in (Mahathir's) election
plans. He may put it off for a while."

The unrest also sparked jitters in the stock market, which ended 0.5
percent lower Monday after plunging 2.3 percent at one stage in reaction
to the renewed political uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Anwar's sodomy trial was postponed for another week Monday
after doctors certified he was "not yet fit to attend court" due to
continued tests and health problems.

"We find he has some health problems such as high blood pressure
although it comes down when he's standing," a hospital doctor said in a
letter produced in court.

"We have also detected problems with his lungs through clinical X-rays
and CT-scans and he needs to be examined by chest experts."

Opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang said the rallies were "definitely
unfavourable" to the ruling coalition and would be an "extra factor why
elections cannot be called immediately."

"The injustice of the Anwar Ibrahim case has haunted the conscience of
Malaysians and the international community for the past 12 months," he
added.