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| Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim freed from jail after Mahathir election win | Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim freed from jail after Mahathir election win |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Malaysian reform politician Anwar Ibrahim has been freed from jail, describing his party's election win as "a new dawn for Malaysia". | Malaysian reform politician Anwar Ibrahim has been freed from jail, describing his party's election win as "a new dawn for Malaysia". |
| Once seen as a future leader, he was jailed on sodomy and corruption charges after falling out with the government. | Once seen as a future leader, he was jailed on sodomy and corruption charges after falling out with the government. |
| Malaysia's new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sought a pardon for Mr Anwar, which was granted on Wednesday morning. | Malaysia's new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sought a pardon for Mr Anwar, which was granted on Wednesday morning. |
| Mr Mahathir has promised to step aside for Mr Anwar to become prime minister within two years. | Mr Mahathir has promised to step aside for Mr Anwar to become prime minister within two years. |
| The politician was jailed for a second time three years ago on what he said were trumped-up sodomy charges. | The politician was jailed for a second time three years ago on what he said were trumped-up sodomy charges. |
| After his release, he told a news conference he thanked the people of Malaysia, who "stood by the principles of democracy and freedom". | After his release, he told a news conference he thanked the people of Malaysia, who "stood by the principles of democracy and freedom". |
| "They demand change." | "They demand change." |
| For years Mr Anwar headed Malaysia's opposition movement, which has just defeated the former ruling party for the first time in the country's history. | For years Mr Anwar headed Malaysia's opposition movement, which has just defeated the former ruling party for the first time in the country's history. |
| Last week's shock election victory followed a reconciliation between Mr Anwar and 92-year-old Mr Mahathir, who sacked and jailed him 20 years ago during his first stint as prime minister. | Last week's shock election victory followed a reconciliation between Mr Anwar and 92-year-old Mr Mahathir, who sacked and jailed him 20 years ago during his first stint as prime minister. |
| Mr Anwar said he had forgiven Mr Mahathir and stressed he would give full support to the new government, though not immediately be part of it. | |
| Mr Anwar walked free out of a hospital in the capital Kuala Lumpur where he had been undergoing treatment for a shoulder problem. | Mr Anwar walked free out of a hospital in the capital Kuala Lumpur where he had been undergoing treatment for a shoulder problem. |
| Supporters camped out at the hospital trailed him to the Istana Negara royal palace where he met Mr Mahathir. | Supporters camped out at the hospital trailed him to the Istana Negara royal palace where he met Mr Mahathir. |
| "Long live Anwar," supporters on motorbikes yelled as they pull into the royal compound in support of their newly-freed leader. | "Long live Anwar," supporters on motorbikes yelled as they pull into the royal compound in support of their newly-freed leader. |
| "He is a symbol of freedom to Malaysians like me," 59-year old Ahmad Samsuddin told the BBC. | "He is a symbol of freedom to Malaysians like me," 59-year old Ahmad Samsuddin told the BBC. |
| "Finally. It feels like the tide of change is turning in Malaysia after so many years of injustice. Today is a historic day with Anwar's release and will get even better." | "Finally. It feels like the tide of change is turning in Malaysia after so many years of injustice. Today is a historic day with Anwar's release and will get even better." |
| Extraordinary twists and turns | Extraordinary twists and turns |
| The story of the relationship Mr Mahathir and Mr Anwar is one of extraordinary twists and turns. | The story of the relationship Mr Mahathir and Mr Anwar is one of extraordinary twists and turns. |
| During the 1990s they were political allies, serving as prime minister and deputy PM respectively. | During the 1990s they were political allies, serving as prime minister and deputy PM respectively. |
| But Mr Anwar was sacked in 1998 after falling out with his political mentor and was jailed a year later for abuse of power. In 2000 he was convicted of sodomy and given an additional nine-year jail term. | But Mr Anwar was sacked in 1998 after falling out with his political mentor and was jailed a year later for abuse of power. In 2000 he was convicted of sodomy and given an additional nine-year jail term. |
| In 2004 his conviction was overturned and he led the opposition to unprecedented gains - though remained short of victory - in the 2008 and 2013 general elections. | In 2004 his conviction was overturned and he led the opposition to unprecedented gains - though remained short of victory - in the 2008 and 2013 general elections. |
| One year later when he was heading into a state election he seemed likely to win, he was sent back to jail. | One year later when he was heading into a state election he seemed likely to win, he was sent back to jail. |
| Events took a remarkable turn earlier this year, when Mr Mahathir announced he would join forces with the opposition and run for top office once again. | Events took a remarkable turn earlier this year, when Mr Mahathir announced he would join forces with the opposition and run for top office once again. |
| Mr Mahathir said he was sick of the corruption allegations plaguing the incumbent Najib Razak, another of his former allies. | Mr Mahathir said he was sick of the corruption allegations plaguing the incumbent Najib Razak, another of his former allies. |
| One condition for Mr Mahathir being allowed to lead the opposition coalition was that he agreed to secure a royal pardon for Mr Anwar who remained popular with his supporters. | One condition for Mr Mahathir being allowed to lead the opposition coalition was that he agreed to secure a royal pardon for Mr Anwar who remained popular with his supporters. |
| Mr Mahathir agreed, and further said he intended to hand the prime ministerial post to Mr Anwar within two years. | Mr Mahathir agreed, and further said he intended to hand the prime ministerial post to Mr Anwar within two years. |