Arrest reportedly imminent for Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim
Updated
A lawyer for Malaysian opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, says his client faces imminent arrest over a former aide's accusations of sodomy - the same charge he was jailed for over a decade ago.
The lawyer, Sankara Nair, says he has been told by police a warrant has been issued for Mr Anwar's arrest, and that he could be taken into custody when he appears at Kuala Lumpur police headquarters on Wednesday for questioning.
Dr Anwar insists the sexual assault allegations are politically motivated, designed to prevent the resurgent opposition from toppling the government.
Dr Anwar has said he is poised to seize power from Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with the help of government defectors, after his opposition alliance claimed one third of parliamentary seats and five states in March elections.
In 1998, Dr Anwar was sacked as deputy premier and jailed on sodomy and corruption allegations, which he maintains were politically motivated.
He was freed from prison in September, 2004, after six years in custody, when the country's top court quashed his conviction and nine-year jail sentence for sodomy.
The same court later refused to hear a new appeal against his conviction and six-year sentence for corruption.
He has been barred from holding political office until this year.
