Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today condemned violence by red shirts protestors against members of the Bersih convoy at Sabak Bernam on Saturday.

A Bersih convoy member was pelted with eggs and assaulted by the opposing red shirts group, led by Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos.

Khairy said the violence was unacceptable and differing views should be resolved peacefully.

"I saw the video (of the incident yesterday), where a group of red shirts attacked a Bersih activist by kicking him and assaulting him.

"This is unacceptable. We must condemn such acts, whoever the perpertator may be," Astro Awani reported him as saying.

He also urged police to take stern action against the perpetrators.

"I cannot accept this and I hope those behind these movements (Bersih and red shirts) can advise their members not to act violently," he said.

PAS: Assault backward, barbaric

Meanwhile, PAS vice president Idris Ahmad said the assault was "barbaric" and backward.

"We are in the new millenium. We can no longer practice politics like we are in the 1960s or barbarians.

"Match argument against argument, programme against programmes. Not meeting convoys with side kicks.

"The red shirts can call out as many (supporters) as possible and hold a convoy like Bersih. Aren't we democratic?" he said in a statement published on PAS organ Harakahdaily.

Two Bersih convoy members, who rode high powered motorcycles, had initially approached the red shirts after they were pelted with eggs.

One of the Bersih activists backed off, but another stood his ground and was kicked off his machine and assaulted.

Bersih condemned the "thuggery" while police have arrested three over the incident.

Red shirts leader Jamal who helped calm the situation yesterday, today said police are unfairly siding with Bersih.