Protests against the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad have shaken the capital since Mr Anwar was sentenced on Wednesday to six years in prison for corruption and abuse of power. He has consistently denied the charges, saying they are part of a political conspiracy to end his challenge to Mr Mahathir's 18-year rule.

The official news agency, Bernama, reported that police had detained at least 118 people.

The news agency reported that city police chief Kamarudin Mohamed Ali said some students had resorted to violence and carried weapons during the demonstrations.

Frances Harrison reports: "Many Malaysians say they are too frightened to join in"

Some 32 students detained on Saturday for offences such as illegal assembly and rioting were to be "handed over to their schools and colleges for further action", Mr Kamarudin said, adding that the co-operation of the public, including teachers, was needed "to overcome the problem".

"We have received reports that some students have been paid and we will investigate this," he said.

Hundreds of people, most of them students, marched through the streets on Saturday, armed with primitive weapons such as catapults and rocks.

Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters

Riot police used tear gas and water cannon to break up a demonstration by opposition supporters in the heart of the main shopping area of Kuala Lumpur.

The demonstrators fled the police into nearby shops and alleyways and several Saturday shoppers were accidentally caught up in the disturbances.

The BBC Correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Frances Harrison, says that the situation is growing ever more tense with larger numbers turning out to demonstrate.

Kuala Lumpur was reported to be calm but tense on Sunday as police patrolled key parts of the capital.

Street violence 'manipulated'

Mr Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, has denied that her newly created National Justice Party (Keadilan) is behind the unrest, although her party's flag was seen during the clashes.

She said on Sunday that reports of anti-government street violence had been exaggerated to divert attention from her husband's jail sentence.

Protestsrs shouted slogans backing Mr Anwar

Wan Azizah said in a statement that she regretted the violence and the fact that weapons were seized from protestors linked to Keadilan.

"The real supporters of reforms and Keadilan would not resort to violence or treat violence as a political approach," she said.

She said that the street violence had been "manipulated to fulfil the political agenda of certain groups".

"The issue has been overblown to shift the people's attention from Anwar's jail sentence, which has sparked outrage.

"It was publicised to smear my husband's reputation and to curb his popularity. It is also an attempt to taint my public image," she said.