Anwar urges Mahathir to step down honorably<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Detained former deputy premier Anwar
\nIbrahim urged Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday to step
\ndown honorably after a crackdown on protests triggered riots in
\nthe capital.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued from detention following fierce weekend
\nclashes between hundreds of demonstrators and police, Anwar said
\nMahathir \"must accept the facts.\"<\/p>\n
\"Hear the grievances of the people and withdraw from the scene
\nin an honorable manner. Protect the peace and harmony of this
\nbeloved country of ours, Malaysia.\" he said in the statement
\nissued through his wife Azizah Ismail.<\/p>\n
It was the first time that Anwar, 51, had called on Mahathir,
\n73, to step down since his arrest on Sept. 20. Anwar had made
\nsimilar calls during mass rallies after he was fired in early
\nSeptember following a feud with Mahathir.<\/p>\n
Mahathir has rejected allegations that police brutality
\nprovoked last weekend's riots in Kampung Baru, a politically
\nsensitive Moslem community in central Kuala Lumpur. More than 250
\npeople were detained and witnesses said women and children were
\nhurt in the police operation.<\/p>\n
Amnesty International accused police of using \"excessive
\nforce\" against demonstrators and warned of more violence if
\npublic discontent was stifled.<\/p>\n
\"Unless discontent is allowed free expression, there is a risk
\nthat public anger will turn to violence,\" it said.<\/p>\n
Anwar has been charged with 10 counts of corruption and sexual
\nmisconduct and is to be tried on four corruption charges from
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
In his statement on Tuesday he called on police to behave
\nprofessionally and refrain from attacking protesters. He urged
\nhis own followers to assemble peacefully in their campaign for
\nreform.<\/p>\n
Mahathir, who has brushed aside previous calls to quit,
\nearlier on Tuesday defended police operations and said
\ndemonstrators were armed with rocks and petrol bombs.<\/p>\n
\"Obviously they want to be provoked so that they can have an
\nexcuse,\" the prime minister was quoted as saying by the national
\nnews agency Bernama.<\/p>\n
Mahathir is also home minister in charge of police and took
\nover the finance ministry as well after sacking Anwar. In his
\nstatement, Anwar urged Mahathir and police Inspector General
\nRahim Noor not to allow \"wanton beatings and arrests of the
\npeople to continue.\"<\/p>\n
Britain's former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten said in
\nSingapore on Tuesday that the world was watching what happened
\nto Anwar with great concern,<\/p>\n
\"It is a great distortion to suggest that it is only
\nWesterners who are concerned about Mr Anwar Ibrahim,\" Patten told
\nthe Foreign Correspondents' Association in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Everyone concerned about freedom, democracy, the rule of law
\nand Southeast Asia's economic well-being and stability would be
\nwatching what happened to Anwar in the coming weeks and months
\nwith \"the most profound concern\", he said.<\/p>\n
\"Leaders in the region have spoken out about their concerns,\"
\nPatten said, in a clear reference to Indonesian President B.J.
\nHabibie and Philippine President Joseph Estrada.<\/p>\n
Both have made comments supportive of Anwar, a friend of both
\nleaders who has been charged with sodomy and corruption. Their
\nsupport has damaged their relations with Mahathir.<\/p>\n
\"Leaders of the global community like (United Nations)
\nSecretary General Mr Kofi Annan, who is not likely to be
\ndescribed by anybody as being a Western central banker or Western
\nstooge,\" had also expressed their concern, Patten said.<\/p>\n
\"I think it is extremely sad that this has arisen and I hope
\nthat the outcome will demonstrate that the rule of law is alive
\nand well in Malaysia,\" he said during a tour to promote his book,
\nEast and West, about his days as Britain's last governor of Hong
\nKong before it was handed back to China in 1997.<\/p>\n
Anwar's trial is being closely monitored by the international
\ncommunity following his allegations that he was beaten up by
\npolice. He appeared in court sporting a black eye and later wore
\na neck brace.<\/p>\n
Malaysia will host a summit of the Asia Pacific Economic
\nCooperation forum next month. There are fears that domestic
\npolitical tensions might disrupt the gathering which will include
\nU.S. President Bill Clinton.<\/p>",
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