(AFP) Amnesty International today accused Malaysian authorities of prosecuting and jailing ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim to remove him from the political scene.

The London-based international human rights group, in its report for last year, reiterated that it considers Anwar, who is serving a total of 15 years for abuse of power and sodomy, "a prisoner of conscience".

His sodomy trial was unfair in several respects, Amnesty said in the section of its worldwide report dealing with Malaysia.

"Public statements by government leaders undermined the defendant's right to be presumed innocent, detainees were ill-treated to coerce confessions and defence lawyers were intimidated."

The rights group also said authorities launched "politically motivated prosecutions" against other leading opposition party members last year.

It said police violently broke up demonstrations by Anwar's supporters and reports of ill treatment of detainees were not adequately investigated.

Malaysia Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) held an inquiry into allegations of police brutality at a pro-Anwar protest last November.

Executions and canings

Anwar said he was framed to avert a political challenge to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The government denies any political motive in his prosecution.

Amnesty also said authorities continued to use laws restricting rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Its report noted opposition to the Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without trial. Amnesty also criticised authorities for the use of the death penalty and of corporal punishment.

It said two men were executed for drug trafficking in November last year in the first reported executions since 1996. At least 13 people were sentenced to death during the year.

"Caning, a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, was imposed throughout 2000 as an additional punishment to imprisonment."