Malaysia`s Anwar tells huge rally he will seize power

In an impassioned speech to a packed stadium Tuesday night, Anwar said it was time to boot out the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition which has governed Malaysia for a half a century since independence from Britain.

"The BN government cannot be trusted to manage the economy of this country because there is too much corruption," he was quoted by AFP as telling the crowd which shouted the opposition battlecry of "Reformasi" or "Reform".

"Time is up, you get out, let us move in!" Anwar said to loud cheers.

Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked a decade ago and spent six years in prison on sodomy and corruption counts, made a stunning return to politics in March elections that dealt the BN an unprecedented setback.

The 60-year-old political maverick said the new accusations of sexual assault by a 23-year-old male aide who volunteered in his office for several months "never happened".

"I will fight these allegations day and night and I won't accept defeat over this evil and lies," he said, adding that his accuser was being manipulated by powerful forces.

"He just became a pawn in their game to attack me. I'm sad that the young boy has ended up in this way." Sodomy is a criminal offense in this conservative country which is predominantly Muslim.

Anwar has said he ...