Azizan Abu Bakar, a former driver for Mr Anwar's wife, told the High Court in Kuala Lumpar that he stood by his statement last year that he had been repeatedly sodomised by the former minister.

Reading his statement to the stunned courtroom, Mr Azizan described how Mr Anwar would often call him to perform what he termed a "heinous act" - even though he tried to decline.

"In the name of Allah, I have become a victim of homosexual acts by Anwar Ibrahim, who now holds the position of deputy prime minister," Mr Azizan read.

BBC's Simon Ingram: "Anwar says driver has a personal grudge"

"This heinous act was committed several times in 1992 against my will.

"It regularly took place in luxury hotels without the knowledge of the public and his wife."

He said Mr Anwar's actions "exerted intense pressure on his spirit and mind".

Feelings of guilt over the incidents finally forced him to stop being a "homosexual slave", he said.

No visible reaction

Mr Anwar has denied the accusations - as well as allegations that he ordered police to force Mr Azizan to retract his evidence. During the dramatic testimony he showed no visible signs of reaction.

Anwar Ibrahim: Denies all charges

BBC South-East Asia correspondent Simon Ingram says the testimony of his former driver is central to the prosecution's efforts to convict Anwar Ibrahim on charges of corruption and sexual misconduct.

Mr Anwar denies 10 counts of sodomy and corruption - charges which he claims are politically motivated.

He was charged followed his sacking from office and arrest in September. His trial is at the centre of the current civil unrest in Malaysia.

Earlier in the day, the trial judge Augustine Paul cancelled an arrest warrant issued on Monday against a lawyer who has worked closely with Mr Anwar's defence counsel.

The judge said he accepted an apology made by the lawyer, Manjeet Singh Dhillon, for alleging that prosecution lawyers had tried to fabricate evidence against Mr Anwar.