Malaysia tense for Anwar verdict

Supporters say they will repeat Friday's demonstration

Tension is growing in Malaysia ahead of the imminent verdict in the trial of former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Police have banned any demonstrations or protests in support of the former minister who, along with his brother Sukma Dermawan, faces charges of sexual assault.

No amount of threats will dampen the people's spirit to exercise their right of assembly

Free Anwar spokesman

Mr Anwar will receive up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of raping his former family driver.

He is already serving a six year sentence after being found guilty of abuses of power in April.

Supporters of Mr Anwar say the trial is little more than a poorly concealed government attempt to remove him and his reformist message from the political scene.

Demonstrators say Anwar Ibrahim has been framed

A BBC correspondent says that Malaysian police are taking no chances and have already moved to stop even peaceful gatherings.

"We are prepared for any eventuality," said police spokesman Superintendent Benjamin Hasbie, adding that about 200 police would be deployed around the court in Kuala Lumpur.

Supporters defiant

However, a spokesman for the Free Anwar campaign warned that demonstrators would defy the authorities and assemble outside the courthouse.

"No amount of threats will dampen the people's spirit to exercise their right of assembly," he said.

Under Malaysian law, police permission is required for gatherings of more than five people.

Police have threatened to arrest even peaceful protesters

On Friday, police arrested seven people after 300 of Mr Anwar's supporters gathered in anticipation of the verdict, which was later postponed.

In April, thousands of Mr Anwar's supporters took to the streets after he was found guilty of abuses of power. Protesters fought running battles with police and paramilitaries.

The violence was the worst outbreak of civil unrest in Malaysia for 30 years, and police used water cannon and tear gas to restore order.

Opposition leaders say the postponement of the verdict from Friday was because the government feared similar protests taking place.

Authorities fear violence erupting

Following Friday's disturbances Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi denied that banning the protests was repressive, saying that the government merely wished to preserve law and order.

"Demonstrations in the country which normally begin peacefully, always end up being tense and riotous,'' he said

Reformist figure

Facing government restrictions, Mr Anwar's supporters have been using more subtle ways of drawing attention to the case, and a number of pro-Anwar websites have sprung up.

They see Mr Anwar's case as symbolising the struggle of the country's reformers against the autocratic regime of Dr Mahathir Mohammad.

Mr Anwar refutes all allegations against him

Mr Anwar has previously claimed the administration is riddled with corruption and cronyism and that the allegations made against him have been dreamt up to silence him and remove a potential rival to the Prime Minister.

If Mr Anwar is found guilty of the sex charges against him, he faces up to 20 years in jail, and a whipping, mandatory in Malaysia for sexual offences.

However, if convicted, his supporters have vowed to fight on, not only to free him but also to free Malaysia of bad government.