Christopher Fernando, the lead defence counsel in sacked deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial, said he expected Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to appear in court on Thursday morning. However, if Mahathir failed to turn up, Christopher said he might ask the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the Prime Minister.

"By all account, Mahathir should be in court on Thursday morning. We have already given notice to the prosecution on this," he said.

A member of the prosecution team who requested anonymity confirmed that a notice for Mahathir to testify in the controversial trial had been given by the defence.

"We believe the matter has been conveyed by the Attorney General's Chambers to the Prime Minster's Office although the response is not known," he said.

He added that the defence should have more faith on the matter. "If the subpoena has been issued, Mahathir will turn up," he said.

However, lead prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail declined to comment when questioned by malaysiakini . He also refused to say whether a warrant of arrest could be issued if Mahathir fails to appear in court on Thursday. It is widely expected that the prosecution team will challenge the subpoena for Mahathir to appear in court.

"Officially, I am not supposed to comment on this matter as the case is on. Anything I say is tantamount to sub judice," Gani told malaysiakini .

Mahathir had earlier said that he would have no problems to appear in court but would only answer questions which are relevant. Such questions, he said, should only relate to sodomy and not the conspiracy to topple his jailed former deputy.

Today the defence questioned a number of journalists who were at a press conference on Aug 24, 1997 in which Mahathir spoke at length on Anwar's sexual misconduct.

One-time heir apparent Anwar is charged together with his adopted brother Sukma Dermawan Sasmitaat Madja for sodomising former driver Azizan Abu Bakar on "one night between January and March 1993 at 7.45pm". Sukma is also charged with abetting and aiding Anwar to sodomise Azizan.

Anwar is currently serving a six-year jail term for abusing his political powers while in office. He had repeatedly denied all charges and said they were fabricated by Mahathir's aides to end his political career.