(AFP) The police today briefly broke their silence to scorn a top-level report which found officers guilty of violating human rights in suppressing an opposition demonstration.

"I actually didn't pay much attention to the report because it is biased and unrealistic, that's all," Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai was quoted by news agency Bernama as saying.

Bernama said Norian had declined to elaborate further.

Norian was reacting to a report by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam)on Aug 20 which found police guilty of using excessive force against anti-government protesters at an opposition rally and "cruel and inhuman" treatment of detainees.

The report by the commission followed an inquiry into a protest on November 5 in which water cannon and teargas were used to disperse some 5,000 supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

The government has supported the police action, while the opposition welcomed the report.