The unsolicited warnings cum threats from the police regarding the proposed 'Black 14' gathering this Saturday are "most deplorable", jailed deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.

"The police must act professionally and not behave arrogantly as political agents or tools for the corrupt ruling clique," he said in a handwritten statement to reporters outside the courtroom of his ongoing sodomy trial at the High Court this morning.

Anwar added that while the people firmly believed that laws be respected and violence must not be condoned, the ruling party must similarly respect the citizens and not use the police to harass, intimidate and provoke them.

"Why deny the rights of the rakyat to organise peaceful meetings?" he asked.

The "Black 14" gathering to be held in conjunction with the first anniversary of Anwar's jail sentence (on April 14 last year), is scheduled to take place at the National Mosque, not tomorrow but on April 15.

Meanwhile, the ongoing sodomy trial at the High Court was today adjourned to Monday. Judge Arifin Jaka will be on emergency leave tomorrow and the submission on Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's testimony will continue when the hearing resumes next week.

The court today heard the testimony of defence witness, Commissioner of Oaths Ngui Kee Heong.

Ngui had in 1998 attested the statutory declarations of ex-driver Azizan Abu Bakar and Ummi Hafilda Ali.

He told Judge Arifin Jaka that Azizan's declaration was signed in front of him in his Kuala Lumpur office on Aug 10, 1998, and that he could not recall anyone who accompanied Azizan then.

To a question by lead prosecutor Mohd Azahar as to who drafted Azizan's affidavit, Ngui replied, "I don't know".

Ummi's declaration, on the other hand was made on June 23, 1998, in the office of business tycoon and former MP S'ng Chee Hua.

Ngui told the court that he was asked to go to S'ng's office in Wisma Genesis at noon that day by his (S'ng's) personal assistant.

He added that S'ng and lawyer Yeoh Chong Keng were in the room when Ummi signed the declaration before him, but he also did not know who drafted her declaration.

Anwar is charged with forcing sex on his wife's former driver Azizan with the aid of adopted brother Sukma Dermawan Sasmitaat Madja.

He is serving a six-year jail term for corruption and stands trial on a separate charge of sodomy and sexual misconduct. He has repeatedly denied all charges and says they were fabricated to end his political career.