Malaysia Anwar gives alibi, faces pressure on DNA

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim has given details of his alibi to the police investigating a sodomy allegation, his lawyer said on Friday, as he faced mounting pressure to provide a DNA sample.

Anwar, who has dismissed the accusation as a high-level conspiracy to quash the opposition's rise, has refused a DNA test because he said it could be tampered with.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Friday Anwar should provide the sample to prove his innocence.

"He said he did not do anything, let's see," Abdullah told reporters. "The result which could prove that he did not do it. That's the way we want to handle it."

One of his lawyers said Anwar had given details of his alibi to the police.

"He has given all the information to police. Details of witnesses have been provided. The full details of the alibi all have been given but I'm not at liberty to discuss it here," Sivarasa Rasiah told reporters.

He said Anwar feared his DNA sample could be tampered with since his accuser, 23-year-old Saiful Bukhari Azlan, has been in police protection since he lodged the complaint on June 28.

"Our main concern is the fact that Saiful has been in police custody since June 28 and the police have Anwar's (previous) DNA in their possession," Sivarasa said.

He said Anwar might consider giving his DNA sample to the police if Saiful's DNA tests were independently verified.