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| Judge refuses to quit Anwar trial | Judge refuses to quit Anwar trial |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The trial for sodomy of Malaysia's opposition leader has been further delayed following the judge's refusal to withdraw from hearing the case. | The trial for sodomy of Malaysia's opposition leader has been further delayed following the judge's refusal to withdraw from hearing the case. |
| Anwar Ibrahim's defence argued Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah was too biased to give their client a fair trial. | Anwar Ibrahim's defence argued Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah was too biased to give their client a fair trial. |
| The court briefly heard the judge refuse to stand down, before the case was adjourned for the defence to prepare an appeal against the decision. | |
| The trial of Mr Anwar has been denounced by his supporters as a sham. | The trial of Mr Anwar has been denounced by his supporters as a sham. |
| "I cannot see how a reasonable person will view my conduct as biased," said the High Court judge. | "I cannot see how a reasonable person will view my conduct as biased," said the High Court judge. |
| "I don't see any reason to recuse myself from this case. If I do this I will be running away from my duty as a judge," he said of the demand to step back from the case. | "I don't see any reason to recuse myself from this case. If I do this I will be running away from my duty as a judge," he said of the demand to step back from the case. |
| Conspiracy? | Conspiracy? |
| The defence had argued he had displayed bias in allowing earlier proceedings described as in camera to be photographed and reported by the local press. | The defence had argued he had displayed bias in allowing earlier proceedings described as in camera to be photographed and reported by the local press. |
| Mr Anwar says he is only on trial for political reasons, and in an interview with BBC News before the trial, he referred to the allegations as a "nasty conspiracy". | Mr Anwar says he is only on trial for political reasons, and in an interview with BBC News before the trial, he referred to the allegations as a "nasty conspiracy". |
| On Wednesday Malaysia's Court of Appeal dismissed a motion from Mr Anwar that the sodomy charge was part of a political conspiracy against him. | On Wednesday Malaysia's Court of Appeal dismissed a motion from Mr Anwar that the sodomy charge was part of a political conspiracy against him. |
| Malaysia's appeals court ruled that the would continue on the grounds that he "had not shown that the charge against him was oppressive and an abuse of court". | Malaysia's appeals court ruled that the would continue on the grounds that he "had not shown that the charge against him was oppressive and an abuse of court". |
| The case, now delayed until 25 March, is being closely watched overseas. | The case, now delayed until 25 March, is being closely watched overseas. |
| ANWAR: CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE 1993 to 1998 - Deputy Prime Minister, under Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad1999 - Jailed for abuse of power, sparking huge street protests2000 - Found guilty of sodomy with his wife's driver2004 - Supreme Court overturns the sodomy conviction, freeing him from jail. He quickly emerges as the de facto opposition leaderMarch 2008 - ruling coalition narrowly wins general election, but with its worst results in 50 years. The opposition makes unprecedented gainsAug 2008 - Anwar charged with sodomy for a second time, but despite this is soon voted in as an MPFeb 2009 - Second trial for sodomy starts Profile: Anwar Ibrahim | ANWAR: CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE 1993 to 1998 - Deputy Prime Minister, under Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad1999 - Jailed for abuse of power, sparking huge street protests2000 - Found guilty of sodomy with his wife's driver2004 - Supreme Court overturns the sodomy conviction, freeing him from jail. He quickly emerges as the de facto opposition leaderMarch 2008 - ruling coalition narrowly wins general election, but with its worst results in 50 years. The opposition makes unprecedented gainsAug 2008 - Anwar charged with sodomy for a second time, but despite this is soon voted in as an MPFeb 2009 - Second trial for sodomy starts Profile: Anwar Ibrahim |
| Government supporters had gathered in front of the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday to protest against Australian calls for the trial to be dropped. | Government supporters had gathered in front of the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday to protest against Australian calls for the trial to be dropped. |
| A group of 50 Australian MPs had said that observers "find it difficult to believe that a leading opposition voice could be charged with sodomy a second time" and noted the allegations came after Mr Anwar made major gains in 2008 polls. | A group of 50 Australian MPs had said that observers "find it difficult to believe that a leading opposition voice could be charged with sodomy a second time" and noted the allegations came after Mr Anwar made major gains in 2008 polls. |
| Homosexual acts are illegal in Malaysia and Mr Anwar faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. | Homosexual acts are illegal in Malaysia and Mr Anwar faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. |
| The charismatic opposition leader - who was deputy prime minister until his sudden sacking in 1998 - served six years after an earlier conviction for sodomy, which was subsequently overturned on appeal. | The charismatic opposition leader - who was deputy prime minister until his sudden sacking in 1998 - served six years after an earlier conviction for sodomy, which was subsequently overturned on appeal. |
| After his release, he led the opposition to election gains in 2008. | After his release, he led the opposition to election gains in 2008. |