Saturday is by law "a day of reflection" ahead of the vote, meaning political activity is barred. But organisers of the protest have called for a huge silent demonstration to begin in the early hours of Saturday, minutes after midnight. Protesters would tie ribbons over their mouths and remove them at five minutes after midnight to mime a "silent shout" of unified protest, it said in the statement. The government is reviewing a ban on protests on the eve of Sunday's local elections to avoid a standoff with the demonstrators.

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