Anwar free to visit ailing mother

Anwar free to visit ailing mother

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's jailed former deputy prime
minister Anwar Ibrahim went on a hunger strike for three days
before authorities allowed him to visit his ailing mother in
hospital, his brother said Monday.

"Anwar refused to eat for three days. On Oct. 11, the prison
wardens finally took him to visit his mother," said Idrus
Ibrahim, Anwar's elder brother.

Idrus said Anwar, who is serving 15 years for corruption and
sodomy, was angry when authorities rejected his plea to visit his
74-year old mother.

Anwar's mother, Che Yan, was admitted to the University
Hospital in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 4. Doctors said she was
suffering complications related to heart, blood pressure and
kidneys. She was discharged from hospital on Oct. 14.