ATHENS - The European Union today said it was disappointed by the appellate court's decision to uphold the sodomy conviction against jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, questioning the fairness of the trial.

Anwar, o­nce heir-apparent to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, was convicted of sodomy and sentenced to nine years imprisonment in August 2000 and lost an appeal case o­n April 18, which is now pending in the Federal Court.

"The European Union, which has continued to monitor the case closely, notes the decision of the Malaysian Court of Appeal," a statement from the EU's Greek presidency said..

"The European Union recalls its earlier statements voicing deep concern about the fairness of the legal proceedings and expresses its disappointment that the verdict has been upheld," it said.

Political threat

Anwar, 56, says he was framed to prevent him from becoming a political threat to Mahathir, an allegation the government denies.

The popular and charismatic Anwar was sacked by Mahathir in September 1998 in a move that rocked Malaysian politics, with thousands of people taking to the streets to demonstrate their support for him.

Within weeks he was arrested and charged with sodomising an official driver several years previously and with abusing his powers to cover up the offence.

The conduct of the trials was widely criticised internationally and the United States still lists Anwar as a political prisoner.

He has made a new application for bail, to be heard o­n Friday, after an earlier request was thrown out last month. - AFP