Malaysia criticises US for Anwar 'interference'
Updated
Malaysia has criticised the United States for questioning its handling of sex accusations against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
The United States says it will oppose any politically-motivated investigation or prosecution of Dr Anwar, who faces new accusations of sodomy with a young male aide - the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago.
The home minister, Syed Hamid Albar, says America should not interfere.
He says the matter is still under investigation and there has not yet been a conclusion.
The opposition leader faces a police investigation over the claims, which he says are concocted by the government in an attempt to derail his plan to seize power with the help of defecting lawmakers.
He says the affair is a re-run of his 1998 sacking and subsequent imprisonment on sodomy and corruption charges.
He was jailed for six years until 2004 when the nation's highest court overturned the sex conviction.
Dr Anwar made a stunning return to politics in March elections that dealt the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition an unprecedented setback.
