Kuala Lumpur - The East Timorese Nobel laureate, Mr Jose RamosHorta, has denounced Malaysian authorities over the beating of the ousted deputy prime minister, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, in police custody.
In a statement faxed to AFP from Lisbon, the East Timor pro-independence leader said Mr Anwar was "one of the most respected Asian leaders" and "the international community cannot remain indifferent in the face of the repulsive behaviour of the autocratic Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad".
Mr Anwar appeared in court this week suffering from bruises and claiming that he had been handcuffed, blindfolded and beaten unconscious on the night of his arrest on September 20th.