KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — The police’s Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) blocked Red Shirts supporters today at Jalan Dang Wangi as they attempted to hold a counter rally to the Bersih 5 protest.

Umno Youth exco Armand Azha Abu Hanifah said he was negotiating with the police to allow them to gather at Padang Merbok.

MyPPP youth chief Sathiah Sudakaran said the Red Shirts merely wanted to "protect the nation”.

"Look at our shirt. Does it say anything racist? Don’t be misled,” said the Barisan Nasional (BN) man.

The Red Shirts, many of whom were masked, chanted "Allahu-Akbar”.

Thousands of Bersih supporters headed towards Jalan Travers here from Bangsar, despite a police barricade there.

The Bersih security team dressed in purple led the protesters. The protesters chanted "Bersih, bebas” as they marched.

Bersih 5 organised by polls reform group Bersih 2.0 is calling for free and fair elections, a clean government and a stronger democracy.