Anwar sues for defamation

This is not the first time Anwar has filed a law suit

The jailed former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, has filed a law suit against the government and state television for allegedly labelling him an "Islamic extremist".

Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair said he was bringing the defamation case over two programmes broadcast in early September.

The Malaysian Government has denied the accusation.

Anwar has previously sued the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for defamation and lost.

Political 'threat'

The former deputy prime minister is serving a 15-year jail sentence for corruption and sodomy after being sacked from the government in September 1998.

Mahathir denies framing his former deputy

Anwar says he was jailed on trumped-up charges to prevent a political challenge to Dr Mahathir - a charge the government denies.

"The move to demonise Anwar just goes to show that he remains a formidable political threat to the ruling elite," said Mr Nair.

Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, is the president of the opposition National Justice Party.

Earlier this year the government refused to let Anwar travel to Munich for a spinal operation for his slipped disc. The government did offer treatment in Malaysia, but Anwar's family has appealed to let him have "less risky" specialist treatment.