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.