Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been arrested over allegations of sodomy, police and his lawyer say.
Armed police surrounded his car early on Wednesday and took him into custody, his lawyer said.
The move came shortly before Mr Anwar was due to given a statement to police over the claims made against him.
The former deputy prime minister denies the allegations, which he says are aimed at ending his political comeback.
The move is likely to exacerbate the political tensions that have emerged since the opposition's unprecedented gains in the general election of March 2008.
BY-BBC NEWS
