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Malaysia's Anwar faces sex claim | Malaysia's Anwar faces sex claim |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Police in Malaysia say they are investigating renewed sodomy allegations against the opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim. | Police in Malaysia say they are investigating renewed sodomy allegations against the opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim. |
A 23-year-old aide to Mr Anwar is said to have filed the complaint. | |
Mr Anwar has denied the claim, saying it is designed to block his political resurgence after success at the polls. | Mr Anwar has denied the claim, saying it is designed to block his political resurgence after success at the polls. |
The ex-Deputy PM was jailed in 1998 on sodomy and corruption charges he has said were politically motivated. The sodomy conviction was later overturned. | |
This is clearly a desperate attempt by the... regime to arrest the movement of the Malaysian people towards freedom, democracy and justice Anwar Ibrahim | |
Although freed from jail in 2004, the corruption conviction barred him from holding political office until 15 April 2008. | |
Mr Anwar said the latest claims against him were "a complete fabrication". | |
In a written statement he said: "I believe we are witnessing a repeat of the methods used against me in 1998 when false allegations were made under duress." | |
The 60-year-old said the sodomy claim was aimed at stopping the opposition from gaining further ground. | |
"This is clearly a desperate attempt by the... regime to arrest the movement of the Malaysian people towards freedom, democracy and justice," he said. | |
The right moment | |
In the general election in March, Mr Anwar led an opposition alliance to considerable gains. | |
They won control of the legislatures in five out of the country's 13 states, and an unprecedented 82 of the 222 seats in the House of Representatives. | They won control of the legislatures in five out of the country's 13 states, and an unprecedented 82 of the 222 seats in the House of Representatives. |
The ruling National Front saw its worst showing in decades, prompting calls for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign. | |
Since then Mr Anwar has said he has the support of enough MPs to topple the government but is waiting for the right moment. |