Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has successfully undergone surgery in Germany for a slipped disc in Germany and is on the way to a full recovery, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in a statement today.

Anwar left Kuala Lumpur for Munich last Saturday night , three days after the Federal Court had quashed his conviction and sentence for sodomy. He had earlier been hospitalised for spinal stenosis, a narrowing of spaces in the spine that results in pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Surgeon Dr Thomas Hoogland carried out the operation about 9pm (Malaysian time) yesterday at the AlphaKlinik. The procedure, which took 1 hour 45 minutes, was completed without complications, said PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali.

"Before the operation, Anwar could only do 10 degrees straight leg-raising. After the compression was removed, he was able to lift (his leg) up to 80 degrees, even while on the operation table," said Syed Husin.

He said that, following three hours of rest, Anwar was able to walk back to his room, which pleased the surgeon and his personal doctor who had accompanied him to Munich.

"He needs to undergo three to four weeks of physiotherapy after which he plans to go to Mecca to perform the umrah beefore returning home," Syed Husin said.

Poor physical condition

Syed Husin also said Anwar would gradually reveal his plans for the future, and conveyed the former politician's gratitude to supporters and those who have "prayed for him throughout his period of trials and tribulations".

Meanwhile AFP reported that Anwar will remain at the Munich clinic for several days and then begin rehabilitation treatment, which is expected to last about three weeks.

Doctors said he was in poor physical condition due to his long confinement and would need to regain muscle strength but remained "positive and in excellent mental shape," Anwar's aide Mohamed Azmin Ali said in a fax to AFP from Germany.

This morning, the Federal Court began a review of its own decision to dismiss Anwar's appeal against the conviction for corruption, for which he has served a six-year prison term.

If the court upholds his application, Anwar will be able to play an active role in politics.