Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim took refuge at the Turkish Embassy on Sunday after police began probing an allegation that he sodomized his male aide, reprising a sex scandal that led to his imprisonment a decade ago.

Anwar, 60, dismissed the accusation, made in a police complaint filed by the 23-year-old aide on Saturday, as “a complete fabrication.”

The dramatic developments that began to unfold a little before midnight Saturday will likely further roil Malaysian politics, which have been in turmoil since March 8 elections handed the governing National Front coalition its worst-ever result.

A three-party opposition coalition led by Anwar made spectacular gains, winning an unprecedented 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament and the legislatures of five states. Anwar has threatened to engineer defections from the National Front to bring down the government by September.
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Popularity: 30% [?]

Technorati Tags: anwar ibrahim, politics, saiful bukhari, sodomy

I am issuing this statement from within the embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Kuala Lumpur.

I was transported to the embassy earlier this morning fearing that my personal safety was in danger. I thank all those who offered to assist me in this time of need and am grateful to the Turkish ambassador for extending an invitation to seek refuge within the embassy.

Since the March 8 election, numerous credible sources from within the government and military intelligence have advised me that certain agents from within Barisan Nasional leadership have initiated plots to cause harm to me or my family or my supporters.

I have been told that my assassination has not been ruled out as means to subvert the people’s will and bring an end to the transformational changes taking place in Malaysia.
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Popularity: 19% [?]

Technorati Tags: anwar ibrahim, embassy, politics, saiful bukhari, statement, turkey

The police report lodged against me earlier today is a complete fabrication. I believe we are witnessing a repeat of the methods used against me in 1998 when false allegations were made under duress. This is clearly a desperate attempt by the Barisan Nasional regime to arrest the movement of the Malaysian people towards freedom, democracy and justice.

The report has been organized by interested parties to attack me in retaliation for evidence I have recently obtained implicating IGP Musa Hassan and the AG Gani Patail in misconduct including fabrication of evidence in the cases launched against me in 1998-1999. This vile attack will not prevent me from releasing this dossier to the public.
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Popularity: 17% [?]

Technorati Tags: anwar ibrahim, politics, saiful bukhari, sodomy, statement