Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim completed medical tests today and could leave the German clinic where he is recovering from spinal surgery this week, a spokesman said.

"He finished doing checkups this morning, and every thing seems OK. The result is positive," the spokesman, Adiln Zabri, told AFP by telephone from the Alpha KliniK in Munich, southern Germany.

"He still has to undergo physiotherapy and get some rest," Zabri said.

When asked when Anwar would leave, he said: "I think in less than a week."

On his way home, Anwar, who was being treated for back injuries he claims he received during a police beating when he was sacked and jailed in 1998, will make an 'umrah', or minor pilgrimage, to Mecca in Saudi Arabia; an act that is a strong symbol of Muslim piety.

Back in M'sia in 10 days

He is expected to return to Malaysia "tentatively in a week or about 10 days," Zabri said.

Once in line to become Malaysia's leader, Anwar travelled to Germany after being released early last month from prison, where he had served six years on corruption charges, which he has always denied.

He has been undergoing intensive physiotherapy during his stay but he regularly meets or speaks over the telephone to former and current world leaders and other senior officials.

As deputy prime minister Anwar had been expected to take over the leadership of Malaysia before being sacked by the then-premier Mahathir Mohamad on Sept 2, 1998, when the two men fell out over economic policy during the Asian financial crisis.