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Malaysia's Anwar seeks sanctuary | Malaysia's Anwar seeks sanctuary |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has sought refuge in the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur. | Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has sought refuge in the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur. |
He told the BBC he had gone to the embassy because he was afraid of being arrested or assaulted. | |
Earlier, Mr Anwar rejected a new allegation of sodomy made by a member of his staff, describing it as a complete fabrication to discredit him. | Earlier, Mr Anwar rejected a new allegation of sodomy made by a member of his staff, describing it as a complete fabrication to discredit him. |
He says the claims by a 23-year-old are designed to block his political resurgence after success at the polls. | He says the claims by a 23-year-old are designed to block his political resurgence after success at the polls. |
'Same script repeated' | |
Mr Anwar told the BBC's Newshour programme he was "seeking personal protection because of my fear of my personal safety in case they arrest [me], and I don't want to repeat the assault and near death under custody of the... Malaysian police". | |
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. | 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. |
Although freed from jail in 2004, the corruption conviction barred him from holding political office until 15 April 2008. | Although freed from jail in 2004, the corruption conviction barred him from holding political office until 15 April 2008. |
He said the government was making up the same accusations as they did in 1998 because they did not want him to take part in elections. | |
"I'm now eligible to contest the elections, so they have to fabricate the same script being repeated in my earlier case in 1998, 1999," Mr Anwar added. | |
The latest claims against him came from an aide who has worked alongside him from the beginning of the year. | The latest claims against him came from an aide who has worked alongside him from the beginning of the year. |
The right moment | The right moment |
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi denied that the government has fabricated a case against him. | |
There was no conspiracy "to cause [Anwar] trouble or harass him or raise such issues to undermine him", he said. | There was no conspiracy "to cause [Anwar] trouble or harass him or raise such issues to undermine him", he said. |
In the general election in March, Mr Anwar led an opposition alliance to considerable gains. | 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 the prime minister 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. | Since then Mr Anwar has said he has the support of enough MPs to topple the government but is waiting for the right moment. |
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