Court of Appeal president Lamin Mohd Yunus today rejected an application for a stay of proceedings on jailed deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial.

Justice Lamin rejected the application after defence lawyers Sankaran Nair and Karpal Singh and public prosecutors Abdul Gani Patail and Azahar Mohamad met him in chambers this afternoon.

"Tan Sri Lamin was unable to grant the stay and told us to proceed with the trial," Sankaran told malaysiakini , adding that he could not disclose the reasons for the decision.

The trial, which was scheduled to resume earlier this morning was adjourned to Friday to allow the counsel to seek a stay of proceedings pending an appeal to the Federal Court.

Anwar has filed a notice of appeal to the country's highest court against High Court judge Arifin Jaka's ruling that Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad need not testify in the sodomy trial after the Court of Appeal upheld this ruling on Monday.

Judge Arifin, on April 22, decided to set aside the subpoena which was served on Mahathir to appear as witness last year. He subsequently allowed for a stay of proceedings pending the disposal of the appeal by the Court of Appeal.

The three-panel appellate court on Monday allowed the preliminary objections raised by the prosecution and ruled that the sodomy trial should continue.

Anwar, currently serving a six-year jail sentence for four counts of corruption, has argued in his affidavits earlier this year that Mahathir's evidence was crucial to the trial, alleging that he was involved in a conspiracy to topple him.

The prime minister however, in his reply denied that he was involved in such a conspiracy and said that Anwar's intention to call him as a witness was in bad faith and an abuse of the court process.

The one-time heir apparent to the prime minister's post today criticised Mahathir for being "afraid to give evidence in the trial".

"Once again it's clear that Dr Mahathir is taking cover behind the courts. He dares to slander and conspire against me but is afraid to face me and give evidence in court," Anwar said in a hand written statement given to reporters outside the courtroom today.

He also condemned the Court of Appeal for deciding in favour of the prime minister after coming out with a judgement without stating any reason.

Anwar is being charged for forcing sex on his wife's former driver Azizan Abu Bakar with the aid of adopted brother Sukma Dermawan Sasmitaat Madja. He faces imprisonment of up to 20 years or more if convicted.

Meanwhile, the defence is expected to call in four witnesses when the trial resumes on Friday.