| NEWS ARCHIVES |
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| Australia lawmakers urge Malaysia to drop Anwar sodomy case |
| 12 Feb 2010 |
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More than 50 Australian lawmakers have lodged a formal protest urging Malaysia to drop opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial.
In a protest letter, the group called for the case to be abandoned in the interest of building confidence in the impartial rule of law in Malaysia.
Michael Danby, member of the governing centre-left Labor party and chairman of Australia's foreign affairs parliamentary subcommittee, said he handed the letter to Malaysian High Commissioner in Canberra yesterday.
Mr Danby said the Malaysian high commissioner is well aware that there is a "wide spectrum of opinion in Australia".
And he added that the letter was not intended to inflame diplomatic relations.
Mr Anwar has condemned the allegations against him as a political conspiracy.
He faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted. |