US: Follow rule of law in Anwar sodomy case

US: Follow rule of law in Anwar sodomy case

Rice has rejected Malaysia's claim that the Anwar case is an internal affair. — AP

SINGAPORE, July 24 —

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today urged Malaysia to be transparent and follow the rule of law in dealing with the sodomy accusation against opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The comment is likely to irk the Malaysian government, which earlier this month accused the US of meddling in its domestic affairs when a State Department spokesman made similar comments on Anwar's case.

"The United States has long spoken and will continue to speak up about cases that we think need to be thought about in terms of the political circumstances," said Rice, who is here to attend a regional security conference.

"We want to see transparency and for rule of law to be completely followed here," she told reporters just before going into the 27-nation meeting. "We are always going to speak up on human rights cases, political cases, but we do so in a spirit of respect for Malaysia."

Anwar has rejected accusations of sodomy made by a male aide, saying they were part of a conspiracy to keep him from seizing power from Malaysia's ruling coalition. Government leaders have denied trying to frame Anwar.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, revived his political career in March when his three-party opposition alliance won 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament, the strongest performance ever for the opposition. He says he is close to toppling the government.

Rice said "part of the comfort level or the confidence that states need to bring to the international system is that their judicial systems are indeed responsive to rule of law and (are) transparent and fair."

She also rejected Malaysia's claim that the Anwar case is an internal affair.

"The United States doesn't recognise this very firm barrier that it is simply internal affairs when a case of this kind comes up, but we are going to continue to work with Malaysia," she said.

Rice's comments were the first public remarks in response to a protest letter that Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said he sent to her earlier this month. Rais also attended today’s meeting.

In the letter, he expressed regret about the earlier US comments, which he said were "uncalled for" and tantamount to interference in Malaysia's affairs. — AP

kzso - hahahahahaaa you make me laugh condoleeza rice. can you also be be transparent TO the captured moeslem in cuba, iraq, iran, afgahnistan and in america?