The United States repeated its condemnation of a court decision last week to deny bail to former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

"We are deeply disappointed that the Malaysian court of appeal has declined to reconsider its upholding of the sodomy conviction and sentence of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said, using stronger language than Washington's condemnation one day earlier.

"The court has also denied a request for bail," he said in a statement.

"We have consistently expressed the view that the sodomy trial of Anwar Ibrahim, and his resulting conviction and nine-year jail sentence, were marred by flaws in the judicial process," he said.

"His pleas for bail and medical parole have been ignored or denied; he is physically suffering from his prolonged detention," Ereli said.

"We urge the Malaysian government to ensure that justice is served, and that respect for human rights are upheld in Anwar's case."

Overseas treatment

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad sacked the charismatic and popular Anwar in 1998.

Anwar was later sentenced to 15 years' jail on charges he says were trumped up to prevent him from making a challenge for the premiership. He has already served four years on corruption charges.

Both the United States and Amnesty International regard him as a political prisoner.

Anwar had sought bail while awaiting the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for sodomy, for which he was jailed for nine years.

If granted bail, the jailed official wants to travel abroad for treatment for a slipped disc in his back, which he says happened in a police assault when he was first arrested. - AFP