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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim arrested | Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim arrested |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been arrested over allegations of sodomy, police and his lawyer say. | Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been arrested over allegations of sodomy, police and his lawyer say. |
| Armed police surrounded his car early on Wednesday and took him into custody, his lawyer said. | Armed police surrounded his car early on Wednesday and took him into custody, his lawyer said. |
| The move came shortly before Mr Anwar was due to given a statement to police over the claims made against him. | The move came shortly before Mr Anwar was due to given a statement to police over the claims made against him. |
| The former deputy prime minister denies the allegations, which he says are aimed at ending his political comeback. | The former deputy prime minister denies the allegations, which he says are aimed at ending his political comeback. |
| The move is likely to exacerbate the political tensions that have emerged since the opposition's unprecedented gains in the general election of March 2008. | The move is likely to exacerbate the political tensions that have emerged since the opposition's unprecedented gains in the general election of March 2008. |
| Armed police | Armed police |
| Profile: Anwar Ibrahim | Profile: Anwar Ibrahim |
| Mr Anwar has been in a tense stand-off with police since a former male aide accused him of sodomy two weeks ago. | Mr Anwar has been in a tense stand-off with police since a former male aide accused him of sodomy two weeks ago. |
| Sodomy is punishable by 20 years' imprisonment in Muslim-majority Malaysia. | Sodomy is punishable by 20 years' imprisonment in Muslim-majority Malaysia. |
| The 60 year-old opposition leader had been scheduled to report to police on Wednesday to be interviewed over the allegations. | The 60 year-old opposition leader had been scheduled to report to police on Wednesday to be interviewed over the allegations. |
| But an hour before the meeting, armed police wearing balaclavas took him into custody outside the gates of his home, his lawyer said. | But an hour before the meeting, armed police wearing balaclavas took him into custody outside the gates of his home, his lawyer said. |
| "The manner in which they surrounded our vehicle, it put a lot of fear and intimidation into us," Sankara Nair said. | "The manner in which they surrounded our vehicle, it put a lot of fear and intimidation into us," Sankara Nair said. |
| Deputy National Police chief Ismail Omar said Mr Anwar was now being questioned at police headquarters. | Deputy National Police chief Ismail Omar said Mr Anwar was now being questioned at police headquarters. |
| "We have to record his statement to complete our investigations," he told the French news agency AFP. "Once the facts are in we can make a decision." | "We have to record his statement to complete our investigations," he told the French news agency AFP. "Once the facts are in we can make a decision." |
| Police can detain the opposition leader for 24 hours, after which they must apply for a court order for further detention. | Police can detain the opposition leader for 24 hours, after which they must apply for a court order for further detention. |
| Political challenge | Political challenge |
| Police used tear gas and water cannon against Mr Anwar's supporters in 1998 | |
| Mr Anwar's arrest will be seen as provocative by Malaysian opposition groups. | Mr Anwar's arrest will be seen as provocative by Malaysian opposition groups. |
| When he was arrested on similar charges 10 years ago, his supporters staged large demonstrations. | When he was arrested on similar charges 10 years ago, his supporters staged large demonstrations. |
| A BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, says it is almost certain that the same thing will happen again now. | A BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, says it is almost certain that the same thing will happen again now. |
| The allegations come only weeks after Mr Anwar said he was in a position to launch a challenge to the ruling coalition, with the help of government defectors. | The allegations come only weeks after Mr Anwar said he was in a position to launch a challenge to the ruling coalition, with the help of government defectors. |
| The opposition leader made his claim at a time when Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is already under intense pressure to resign over poor election results and high fuel prices. | The opposition leader made his claim at a time when Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is already under intense pressure to resign over poor election results and high fuel prices. |
| Mr Abdullah has said he will leave office in 2010, defying pressure to step down this December. | Mr Abdullah has said he will leave office in 2010, defying pressure to step down this December. |