SRINAGAR  - Tens of thousands of Muslims took to the streets of Indian-occupied Kashmir's main city on Monday to demand that the United Nations recognise the Himalayan region's right to self-determination. Security was tight as crowds marched towards a local UN office, in defiance of official warnings against holding the rally in Srinagar, which remained tense after deadly clashes last week. Hurriyat leaders submitted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the UN Office in Srinagar asking the world body to "actively engage" itself in IHK, and help restore peace in the highly turbulent state. Hurriyat Conference leaders Javid Ahmad Mir and Zaffar Abar Bhat submitted the MoU to the local office of UN Military Observers Group, a private TV channel reported. The protest march was joined by hundreds of Hurriyat supporters. "I have never seen such a big rally in Srinagar," said Abdul Aziz, a 75-year-old shopkeeper who was taking part in the procession. "I couldn't resist coming out to demand freedom from India," he said, as he marched towards the UN office carrying a placard reading "If freedom for Kosovo, why not for Kashmir?" The marchers chanted slogans including "We will give blood for Kashmir's freedom." Many also carried green or black flags - symbolising Islam and mourning. Kashmiri leader Shabbir Shah said the demonstrators delivered a plea for UN intervention in the wake of last week's shootings of "peaceful protesters". Another leader urged the UN to "help us in achieving the right to self-determination." Addressing a mammoth rally, APHC leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq asked the Indian government to hold trilateral talks with Pakistan and Kashmiri leaders to resolve the 60-year-old dispute. He warned New Delhi that situation in Kashmir would not improve until Muzaffarabad road is opened, draconian laws are revoked and prisoners are released, asking the people to continue with peaceful protests. He warned New Delhi that if these demands aren't fulfilled immediately, "situation would further deteriorate and all responsibility would lie on its shoulders." Our Monitoring Desk adds: APHC leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani Monday demanded the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan, as leaders of the moderate Hurriyat faction spoke about independence and a dialogue over the state, reports CNN-IBN TV channel. Addressing a mammoth gathering at the tourist reception centre in Srinagar, Geelani said there was "no solution to the Kashmir issue other than merger with Pakistan". "We are Pakistanis and Pakistan is us because we are tied with the country through Islam," he roared, as the crowd cheered him and chanted: "Hum Pakistani hain, Pakistan hamara hai" (We are Pakistanis, Pakistan is ours). Taking a dig at the moderate Hurriyat leaders who shared the stage with him, Geelani said the leadership issue of the Kashmiri movement was "solved today". "Do you have faith in my leadership? I will be faithful to you till my death and will carry everyone along," he said, as the crowd applauded him shouting in unison "zaroor" (certainly). Meanwhile, thousands of Hindu activists continued demonstrations in the south of the state, taking advantage of a relaxation of a daytime curfew in and around the winter capital Jammu, witnesses said. The regional headquarters of one of Kashmir's mainstream political parties, the People's Democratic Party, was ransacked by Hindus, police said. Meanwhile, rights campaigners on Monday urged India to revoke a half-century-old law that gives the army sweeping powers. Human Rights Watch said that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, enacted exactly 50 years ago, had become "a tool of state abuse, oppression and discrimination." "The law grants the military wide powers to arrest without warrant, shoot-to-kill, and destroy property," the New York-based HRW said in a statement. "It also protects military personnel responsible for serious crimes from prosecution, creating a pervasive culture of impunity," it said.