SINGAPORE - SINGAPORE will stick to its tough laws governing public protests when leaders from around the region meet in the city-state next week, police said Thursday.

It is illegal in Singapore to hold a public gathering of five or more people without a police permit.

Beginning Sunday, Singapore is hosting the annual summit and related meetings of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean).

'People that come to Singapore are expected to observe Singapore laws... just as any other Singaporeans would be expected to do,' police director of operations Wong Hong Kuan told reporters.

When asked whether police had learned of plans by foreigners to attempt demonstrations, Mr Wong said only that protest attempts have been made in other countries.

'The police force is prepared to deal with any such security issues that may arise,' Mr Wong said.

At last January's Asean summit meeting held in the Philippine city of Cebu, riot police skirmished with several hundred demonstrators.

Mr Wong said he understood police have received - and already rejected - an application by a local individual to hold an assembly outside the Shangri-La hotel where the summit is to occur.

He declined to identify the person but the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said on its website that its request to hold a protest on Monday has been denied.

For the five days of Asean meetings, hundreds of delegates including leaders of 16 nations will move around the city in more than 80 vehicles, police said.

Shifts of about 2,500 police officers will guard the events, they said.

When asked whether members of the elite paramilitary Gurkha Contingent - Nepalese who gained fame in the British army - would also be deployed, he said 'the whole police force is committed to the Asean summit.'

The effort also involves Singapore's military and other agencies, he said, describing security measures as 'robust'. -- AFP