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| Anwar Ibrahim's two-year Malaysia sodomy trial ends | Anwar Ibrahim's two-year Malaysia sodomy trial ends |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The sodomy trial of Malaysia's opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim has ended after two years, with the judge due to deliver a verdict on 9 January. | The sodomy trial of Malaysia's opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim has ended after two years, with the judge due to deliver a verdict on 9 January. |
| Mr Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, has repeatedly said the trial is part of a political smear campaign. | Mr Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, has repeatedly said the trial is part of a political smear campaign. |
| But prosecutors have said Mr Anwar has failed to explain DNA evidence linking him to the alleged victim. | But prosecutors have said Mr Anwar has failed to explain DNA evidence linking him to the alleged victim. |
| Mr Anwar was convicted of sodomy in a separate earlier case, but had the conviction overturned on appeal. | Mr Anwar was convicted of sodomy in a separate earlier case, but had the conviction overturned on appeal. |
| His former political aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, says Mr Anwar forced him to have sex in June 2008. | |
| Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia, even among consenting adults. Mr Anwar faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted. | Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia, even among consenting adults. Mr Anwar faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted. |
| Conspiracy claims | Conspiracy claims |
| The allegation surfaced months after Mr Anwar led the opposition to win an unprecedented number of seats in a general election. | The allegation surfaced months after Mr Anwar led the opposition to win an unprecedented number of seats in a general election. |
| The government denies Mr Anwar's accusation that it cooked up the charges to get rid of him from the political scene. | The government denies Mr Anwar's accusation that it cooked up the charges to get rid of him from the political scene. |
| He is seen as the only politician capable of united disparate opposition groups to challenge the governing National Front coalition. | He is seen as the only politician capable of united disparate opposition groups to challenge the governing National Front coalition. |
| The National Front, dominated by the Umno party, has been been in power since independence in 1957. | The National Front, dominated by the Umno party, has been been in power since independence in 1957. |
| Mr Anwar was a power figure in Umno who previously served as finance minister and deputy prime minister during the 1990s. | Mr Anwar was a power figure in Umno who previously served as finance minister and deputy prime minister during the 1990s. |
| However, he fell out with long-time leader and political mentor Mahathir Mohamed over Malaysia's response to the 1997 financial crisis and proposed reforms to Umno. | However, he fell out with long-time leader and political mentor Mahathir Mohamed over Malaysia's response to the 1997 financial crisis and proposed reforms to Umno. |
| In 1998 he was fired from the cabinet, dismissed from Umno and put on trial for sodomy and corruption. | In 1998 he was fired from the cabinet, dismissed from Umno and put on trial for sodomy and corruption. |
| He was jailed, but later had the sodomy charge overturned and was freed in 2004. | He was jailed, but later had the sodomy charge overturned and was freed in 2004. |
| The government is expected to call a general election early next year. | The government is expected to call a general election early next year. |