The Australian foreign minister, Alexander Downer, has expressed concern that the trial of the former Malaysian deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, may have a detrimental effect on the APEC summit in Kuala Lumpur later this month.

Mr Downer said he hoped the summit would be a success, no matter what domestic problems were faced by the Malaysian government.

Mr Anwar's trial, on charges of corruption and sodomy, begins tomorrow.

He denies any wrongdoing.