Man slashes himself at Malaysia anti-Israel rally

A Palestinian man slashed himself with a box cutter outside the US Embassy in Malaysia on Tuesday at a protest against Israel's attack on a Gaza aid flotilla.

Some 500 people demonstrated outside the American Embassy in this Muslim-majority nation, waving banners that read "Save Gaza" and "Stop the Israeli crimes in Gaza," and shouting "Long live Palestine."

They demanded the Unites States act against its ally Israel, and condemned Israel's attack Monday on an aid ship that tried to breach its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

"It was an act of terrorism on the part of Israel, a barbaric act done by uncivilized and inhumane people," a protest memo by Muslim activist groups handed to an embassy official said.

As the rally came to an end, a 30-year-old Palestinian man slashed himself several times with a box cutter and held it to his neck, apparently threatening to kill himself, before police handcuffed him and took him to a hospital.

The man received several stitches on his thigh and is being investigated for attempting to commit suicide, which carries a maximum prison sentence of one year, said local police chief Abdul Rahim Hamzah Othman. He said he didn't know the man's name or other details.

The Malaysian government has condemned the attacks, demanding Israel immediately release the detained activists and ships. Malaysia has also called on the UN Security Council to pressure Israel to lift the blockade.

"This unprovoked incident has resulted in the killing and injuring of innocent and unarmed international humanitarian activists. The assault in international waters is a flagrant and serious breach of international law," Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said in a statement late Monday.

Israeli commandos and pro-Palestinian activists fought aboard the lead ship of the aid flotilla Monday, leaving at least nine passengers dead and dozens injured. Hundreds of activists have been detained by Israel.