(AFP) Malaysian riot police today broke up a rally by some 500 students protesting outside the National Mosque against a controversial law which allows detention without trial.

A police spokesman said seven people were arrested for illegal assembly and for refusing to disperse.

The students, including women, gathered in the compound outside the mosque after Friday prayers, waving banners and shouting slogans against the feared Internal Security Act (ISA).

Protests against the ISA have mounted following the detention without trial of 10 supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim in April.

Another protest is planned tomorrow outside the official residence of Deputy Premier and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Four of the ISA detainees have been sent to the Kamunting detention camp, to be held for up to two years.

Dozens of riot police armed with batons and rattan canes were on standby at the mosque, backed up by a water cannon.

There were some scuffles between protesters and police, witnesses said. Several people were taken to a police truck before the crowd dispersed peacefully 20 minutes later.

Khairul Anuar, who heads the Student Coalition to Abolish the ISA, condemned the police action.

"We have gathered peacefully today and given our cooperation to police. They made the arrests without any warning and just as we were about to disperse," he said.

He claimed several students, including women, were beaten by police.

Opponents say the ISA is being used to suppress peaceful opposition to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's 20-year rule.

No evidence made public

Mahathir and the police have justified the ISA arrests on grounds that Anwar's supporters planned to overthrow the government in violent street demonstrations. No evidence has been made public.

Two ISA detainees are still in police custody, two have been ordered to be freed by a high court judge and two were voluntarily released by police.

Lawyers for Lokman Noor Adam and Badrul Amin Bahron, who are still in police custody, have made "habeas corpus" applications to a high court seeking their release. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Both are senior officials of the National Justice Party headed by Anwar's wife.

Lokman's wife, Noor Faharin Ahmad, said today that her husband expects to be also transferred to Kamunting for a two-year detention.

"I saw him yesterday with our two children and he told me to be prepared for him to be sent to Kamunting," she said, adding that he did not give any reasons.

A home ministry spokesman declined to comment.

Anwar is serving a total of 15 years in prison for abuse of power and sodomy. He says he was framed to avert a political challenge to Mahathir, who denies the allegation.