Gathering outside the main gate, they chanted "Reformasi" (reform), "Democracy" and "Down with (Prime Minister) Mahathir (Mohamad), as passing vehicles honked in support. Many waved flags of the National Justice Party (Keadilan), led by Anwar's wife, and held banners reading: "Free the judiciary," "Happy birthday Anwar" and "People are the judge." Keadilan is part of an opposition alliance which also groups three other parties.

Four police trucks including a water cannon arrived at the scene shortly afterwards, but dozens of riot police who stood guard inside the prison ground made no attempt to disperse the crowd. It was the third consecutive day of demonstrations by Anwar supporters since Tuesday when he was convicted of sodomy and jailed for nine years. He turned 53 on Thursday.

On Friday, Anwar supporters demonstrated at the national mosque in the capital, while on Saturday they gathered outside the foreign ministry to submit a memorandum to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission. Anwar's sentence will follow a six-year jail term he received in April 1999 for abuse of official powers, and could keep Anwar behind bars until 2014.

Keadilan youth chief Mohamad Ezam Mohamad Nor led the crowd in a prayer and then released six pigeons and sparrows, and balloons, as a symbol of freedom. Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah, arrived about an hour after Sunday's crowd gathered, accompanied by four of her six children, her father and father-in-law.

"I feel invigorated by all the support but I feel sad because this is the first day of a long sentence for my husband," she told reporters before entering the prison with her family. Her eldest daughter Nurul Izzah added: "I am very, very happy and touched with the support." Emerging after more than an hour of meeting, Wan Azizah said Anwar was "deeply moved" and encouraged by the show of support that he had "not been forgotten." There were no clashes between police and supporters, who gradually dispersed amid heavy rain after Wan Azizah entered the prison.

The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union have condemned Anwar's verdict, but Malaysia accused them of meddling in its affairs. Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Saturday that Kuala Lumpur had sent "strong" protests to the countries, as foreign criticism of the trial amounted to unacceptable interference. While International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz added it was improper for foreign nations to pass judgement on the case.

"If they continue to do that, then we have no option but to think that they do have some ulterior motive and have their own individual agenda (in) this country," she reportedly said. But US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright countered that Malaysian complaints were misplaced. "Everybody has been very concerned about the fact that it certainly (was) not a fair process," Albright told AFP after the annual meeting of US, Canadian and Mexican foreign ministers in Santa Fe.

"In this day and age, it is accepted procedure for countries to comment on injustice and I think Anwar ... has not had the ability to have a free and fair trial." Anwar's lawyers are appealing against the court verdict. Anwar says Mahathir led a conspiracy to frame him because he intended to expose corruption and was a political threat. The premier denies any plot.