Rice says will continue to speak out on Anwar

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday Washington would continue to speak out in legal cases such as that of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, despite accusations of meddling. Hours before meeting Malaysia's foreign minister on the sidelines of the ASEAN regional forum in Singapore, Rice said the United States had long spoken out in cases deemed to be political in nature and would continue to do so. "We are always going to speak up on human rights cases, political cases, but again we do so in a spirit of respect for Malaysia," Rice told a news briefing. Anwar, a former deputy premier, faces AN allegation he engaged in a homosexual act with a former aide that could derail his political plans. He has not been charged with sodomy -- a crime punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment in... [read full story]