Former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, was admitted on Sunday to a clinic in Munich, southern Germany, for surgery, a spokesperson there said.

"Mr Anwar was admitted today (Sunday)," said the spokesperson at the Alpha-Klinik, which specialises in back and knee ailments. Anwar will be treated there for a back injury he has blamed on Malaysian police.

According to one Anwar aide, Dr Thomas Hoogland ( photo, left ) will perform a special micro invasive operation to free a compressed nerve in Anwar's back at 3pm Munich time (Malaysian time 11pm).

"Upon Anwar's arrival yesterday, he was examined by spine specialist Dr Hoogland. Several tests, including a special MRI test, were done," said Azmin Ali today.

"Dr Hoogland had discussed Anwar's condition with him and it appears that Anwar still has a slip disc and also spinal stenosis," added Azmin.

Azmin added the special micro operation will take at least two hours. He also said that Anwar will need several weeks of rehabilitation after the operation.

Rousing send-off

Anwar, 57, was released from prison last week after six years behind bars on corruption charges. He was freed when he won an suprise appeal on Thursday against a nine-year sentence for sodomy.

He was sacked by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad in 1998 and later sentenced to 15 years in jail on charges he said were trumped up to prevent him mounting a challenge for the premiership.

Thousands of supporters turned out at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Saturday to give him a rousing send-off.