Mark Trowell, an international observer at the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy appeal, said the supporters of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan mainly comprised teenagers.

Speaking to reporters at the Palace of Justice this afternoon, Trowell also said that they seemed to brandish banners and placards that were "professionally made".

"Based on what I observed, I believe the banners were professionally made," added the Queen's Counsel, who is representing Lawasia, Inter Parliamentary Union and the Australian Council.

Trowell also said Saiful's supporters obliged when he asked to photograph them.

This afternoon, some 100 Saiful supporters were outside the court complex, armed with placards and banners.   

Even after the proceedings ended for today, they continued to chant slogans like "Tangkap (Arrest) Anwar", "Hidup Saiful (Long Live Saiful)" and "Hukum Peliwat (Punish the Sodomite)" .

The group also called on Anwar's supporters to "balik rumah (go home)".

One of the pro-Saiful supporters reiterated that the group was not paid to come to court but were there of out their own volition.

He claimed that the supporters were backing Saiful because of their "awareness" about the case.

Earlier, some 150 Anwar supporters also gathered outside the court building, where, among others, they held a mass prayer session for the court to acquit the opposition leader.

    

The Court of Appeal overturned the High Court acquital of Anwar and found him guilty of sodomising Saiful, his former aide.

The appellate court also sentenced the 67-year-old former deputy prime minister to five years' jail. Anwar is out on bail after obtaining a stay of execution of the sentence.

Anwar maintains that this second sodomy charge, similar to the first one he faced in 1999, was fabricated by his political opponents, but the government has denied this.