Ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, who was released from prison after serving six years on graft and sodomy charges, will join the John Hopkins University as a visiting scholar, the university said on Wednesday.

As a senior visiting fellow, Anwar will present seminars on contemporary Southeast Asian politics, economic reform, Islam and democracy.

He is currently working on his prison diaries to be published later this year and a project examining democratisation in the Muslim world, said Felisa Klubes, spokeswoman for the university's school of advanced international studies.

"He also will counsel students who wish to learn more about Southeast Asia and the Muslim world," she added.

Anwar will be attached to the foreign policy institute of the university's school of advanced international studies.

Close ties with Washington

Anwar, who enjoyed close ties with Washington when he was in government, was heir apparent to then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad before being jailed for six years for alleged corruption involving abuse of power.

He was freed last September after a separate sodomy conviction was overturned.

He and human rights groups maintained the charges were trumped up to prevent him from challenging Mahathir, an allegation denied by the ex-premier.

Barred from holding public office until 2008 under laws governing convicted criminals, Anwar has been cagey about his political plans.