Malaysian court frees Anwar - CNN

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia -- Malaysia's highest court has overturned the controversial sodomy conviction of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and freed him from prison.

The Federal Court ruled 2-1 to reverse the conviction against one of Asia's best-known political rebels on Thursday, six years after his firing triggered off the Southeast Asian nation's biggest political crisis.

Anwar, once considered the heir-apparent to then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, was sacked and jailed in September 1998 after falling out with Malaysia's leader.

In his first remarks to reporters, Anwar claimed the convictions against him had been "highly politically motivated" but that he bore no ill will toward Mahathir, The Associated Press reported.

[More at http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/09/02/malaysia.anwar/index.html]