Refugees gassed in protest

Kuala Lumpur - Police fired tear-gas at 1,000 Vietnamese refugees who broke out of their camp and refused to return after a day-long protest against their imminent repatriation. A Red Crescent official said at least 13 people were injured.

The violence began when 4,000 refugees broke metal fencing and poured out of the camp on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. They stood along a highway for hours, waving protest banners. Most agreed to return to the camp, but others stayed outside. Police cordoned off the area before attacking after nightfall. Many of those caught in the tear-gas were women and children. AP