Sheltering in Turkish embassy Malaysia's Anwar demands safety guarantee

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who fled to the Turkish embassy after being hit with sodomy accusations, said Monday he will not leave until his safety is guaranteed.

Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed a decade ago on sodomy and corruption charges, said the the allegations levelled by a 23-year-old male aide were designed to derail his stunning political comeback.

"They came out with these sexual allegations to stop me from securing power," said the charismatic 60-year-old whose opposition alliance seized a third of parliamentary seats in March elections.

"There's two reasons why I decided to come to the embassy. It's not just for my personal safety, it's also for the stability of the nation," he said, referring to...