PM files defense to Anwar's suit

PM files defense to Anwar's suit

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad filed a statement of defense in response to a 100 million ringgit (US$26 million) defamation suit brought by his former deputy, the Bernama news agency said on Friday.

The lawyers of fired minister Anwar Ibrahim filed a writ of summons at the capital's High Court in January, accusing Mahathir of slandering Anwar during a news conference on Sept. 22, 1998, the national news agency said.

At the news conference, Mahathir detailed for the world media what he said were sexual acts which led him to fire Anwar.

In his defense, Mahathir said the alleged defamatory words were spoken in his capacity as prime minister on an occasion of qualified privilege, Bernama reported. He also denied the offending words were calculated to disparage Anwar.