Libel Payout for Former Deputy Pm

Malaysia's former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, yesterday won £660,000 in libel damages against an author whose allegations of sexual impropriety and incompetence played a large part in his downfall in 1998.

Judge Hishamudin Yunus said there was no substance to the book - 50 Reasons Why Anwar Cannot Be PM, written by Khalid Jafri and his wife, Rozihan - and that its publication was designed to destroy the plaintiff's career.

Mr Anwar, freed this year after serving six years for corruption and having his sodomy conviction quashed, is unlikely to see much of the cash since Mr Khalid is seriously ill in hospital. But he said yesterday: "I am vindicated ... it is a matter of honour and truth."

Mr Khalid has been sentenced to a year's jail for publishing false statements but is free pending appeal.