Malaysia Anwar turns to sharia court in sodomy case

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Reuters) - Malaysia's main opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday asked the Islamic court to investigate a former aide, who accused him of sodomy, for alleged slander. His decision to bring the case to a sharia court could step up pressure on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration and the 23-year-old aide, who is already facing a civil suit by Anwar. Anwar says the allegation was part of a high-level political conspiracy to keep him from entering parliament and to halt his drive to lead the opposition to power for the first time in Malaysian history. 'I have decided to make this report to the Islamic court under the provision of malicious attack on my character, fabrication and lies,' he said after filing the complaint at a sharia office. Anwar, who is being investigated by the... [read full story]