Jailed ex-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, denied bail today, stood up in court and shouted abuse at the three Court of Appeal judges .

He called them "spineless" and "under the thumb of the executive", before they demanded that Anwar's lawyer restrain him and then walked out of the courtroom.

Anwar shouted after them: "Judges are running away, shame on you."

The ex-politician has served four years in jail on corruption charges and sought bail while awaiting the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for sodomy, for which he was sentenced to nine years in prison.

The Court of Appeal had been considering the bail application since argument ended on July 23 after a hearing that began last April.

"For nine months this application has been with you - do you have a problem of amnesia?" Anwar asked.

The United States and Amnesty International regard Anwar as a political prisoner and yesterday Human Rights Watch urged the court to grant him bail.

"Releasing Anwar would end the injustice he's suffered and signal a renewed spirit of independence for Malaysia's judiciary," said Brad Adams, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division.

'Stop the charade'

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad sacked Anwar in 1998 and he was later sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison on charges Anwar says were trumped up to prevent him from making a challenge for the premiership.

Some supporters had hoped that his release might be possible after Mahathir retired last October and was replaced by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

But after the judges walked out, Anwar told those in the courtroom, including diplomats from the US, Britain and Canada, that Abdullah's pledges to combat corruption and foster transparency in Malaysia were "hypocrisy".

"Abdullah should stop this charade. Abdullah should ensure there is a separation of powers. Abdullah should free himself from Mahathir's grip," he said.

"It is hypocrisy when he talks about corruption and transparency. You expect me to be quiet when there is deceit?

"After nine months of deliberation, it is sickening that they announced this decision. My sympathy is for my family and (wife) Azizah but I know they will be strong."

His supporters in court also stood up and shouted, repeating what Anwar said, while outside the court around 100 demonstrators carrying placards chanted Anwar's battlecry of reformasi.

One of Anwar's lawyers, Christopher Fernando, said his client's outburst was "justified".

"Denial of bail is a travesty of justice. Also the judge declined to give reasons for the denial. It is unprecedented. Anwar wants to know the reasons why bail is denied." he said.

"We will now go to the Federal Court, with both the bail (application) and the sodomy (appeal)." - AFP