Malaysia marks its 51st independence anniversary

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia marked its 51st birthday on Sunday with a mammoth parade that did little to mask the uncertainties a reborn opposition poses to the government's uninterrupted hold on power since independence from Britain in 1957.

Thousands of people marched in the historic Merdeka (Freedom) Square, watched by Malaysia's king and government leaders. Fighter planes and helicopters roamed the sky above.

But beneath the pomp and gala, Malaysia's embattled government is heading into major political turbulence.

Opposition leader Anwar Ebrahim says he is seeking to win over 30 defectors from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to form a new government by his self-imposed deadline of September 16.

Anwar said on Saturday his opposition alliance would not use money or blackmail to woo defectors.