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Anwar vows to fight sodomy claim Anwar urges supporters to protest
(about 2 hours later)
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has vowed to fight damaging fresh claims against him "every inch". Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has called on his supporters to protest against what he has called a "conspiracy" against him.
Mr Anwar filed complaints against the police chief and attorney general, and called a rally for Tuesday evening. He told the BBC the authorities were waging a campaign of fabrication aimed at ending his political comeback.
He says the latest accusation of sodomy - from a 23-year-old former aide - is part of a political campaign to destabilise his bid to return to power. He faces fresh accusations of sodomy from a former aide. The government denies any involvement in the claims.
Mr Anwar had appeared a spent political force before his opposition alliance made a strong showing in March polls. Mr Anwar has promised to fight back, filing complaints against the police chief and attorney general.
Once the deputy and presumed successor to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, he was sacked to face charges of sexual misconduct in 1998 and went on to serve six years in jail for sodomy and corruption. 'Provoking unrest'
Mr Anwar had appeared a spent political force before his three-party opposition alliance made a strong showing in March polls.
He now accuses the government of "fabricating" a campaign against him.
"The government is provoking unrest, because it [the alleged sexual assault] did not happen, so there is a conspiracy," he said in an interview with the BBC.
"Why? Because they are desperate. We will not allow and give them that pretext to declare a state of emergency.
"For now we say, 'Protest by all means'," he added, urging supporters to use stadiums or other public spaces.
Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia, punishable by 20 years' imprisonment, and Mr Anwar took refuge in the Turkish embassy over the weekend, claiming that the allegations put his life in danger.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has strongly denied any involvement in the new accusations.
Complaints filed
Once the deputy and presumed successor to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Mr Anwar was sacked to face charges of sexual misconduct in 1998 and went on to serve six years in jail for sodomy and corruption.
The sodomy count was later overturned, and a ban on public office relating to the corruption conviction expired in April.The sodomy count was later overturned, and a ban on public office relating to the corruption conviction expired in April.
Mr Anwar says he had been due to announce his candidacy in a by-election when these new claims emerged. In an earlier news conference, Mr Anwar said he had planned to announce that he was to contest a parliamentary seat in a forthcoming by-election but had temporarily delayed the move.
'Conspiracy' He has filed complaints against the police chief Musa Hassan and attorney general Abdul Gani Patail over his trial for sodomy in 1998.
But at a news conference on Tuesday, Mr Anwar said his plan to contest the by-election had been "derailed for some days", Reuters news agency reported. He accuses the two men - then respectively the police investigating officer and prosecutor - of faking evidence against him.
He repeated claims that the latest sodomy allegation was part of a political conspiracy to keep him out of parliament, but vowed to fight the accusation "every inch".
Mr Anwar has also filed complaints against the police chief Musa Hassan and attorney general Abdul Gani Patail over his trial for sodomy in 1998.
He says the two men - then respectively the police investigating officer and prosecutor - fabricated evidence against him.
Mr Anwar's supporters are preparing a public rally to protest against the claims on Tuesday evening.Mr Anwar's supporters are preparing a public rally to protest against the claims on Tuesday evening.
Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia, punishable by 20 years' imprisonment, and Mr Anwar took refuge in the Turkish embassy over the weekend, claiming that the allegations put his life in danger.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has strongly denied any involvement in the new claims.