Anwar's acquittal makes top news worldwide

The sodomy trial verdict has made headlines globally, being flagged as top news on the websites of leading news organisations.

Global broadcasters CNN and Al Jazeera led with the news in their Asia editions, mirrored by UK's Sky News and Australia's ABC networks.

British public broadcaster BBC made Anwar its top personality today leading with the verdict, and followed with a news feature on the politician, charting his decade-long career.

In the feature, the BBC claimed that the ethnic Chinese community are still wary of Anwar's ‘radical Islamic roots’, although he is seen by the international community as ‘the leading force for reform in Malaysia’.

UK daily The Guardian made the ‘shock ruling’ its top story, saying that the acquittal could ‘fast forward the former deputy prime minister's comeback’.

The reports were produced by the newspaper’s own correspondents, to whom Anwar had in the past week been giving a string of exclusive interviews.

The Opposition Leader was also interviewed at his home by the foreign media, most of which have followed the two-year trial, soon after the verdict was delivered this morning.

Wire reports were reproduced on websites in Kenya, India, China and Jerusalem with the triple explosions outside court bumping the story higher in the respective World News sections.

The news of Anwar’s acquittal also came op tops in Australia's Sydney Morning Herald's World section, although the article was produced by newswire AFP.

The Wall Street Journal's Asia edition made the ending of the trial which ‘polarised’ multiethnic Malaysia its lead story, reporting also that analyst believe the acquittal would benefit Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's reform image.

It added that Najib is, however, implementing a ‘high stakes strategy’ and risking a ‘backlash’ from more conservative elements in Umno.

Analysts tip elections soon

The New York Times carried the acquittal as the third story in the World News section, observing that the government ‘is inclined to make the best of the situation’ coming out of the verdict.

An Associated Press report was top news for the Financial Times and Bloomberg, with the latter reporting that investors would find the court decision favourable.

Malaysian and Singaporean analysts were quoted by Bloomberg as saying that the verdict “vindicates” Anwar, and could indicate “more election plans ahead”.

As of 4.10pm, it reported, the Bursa was up 0.3 percent while the ringgit dropped 0.4 percent against the US dollar.

In a commentary, Forbes writer Simon Montlake called the verdict a ‘dramatic finale’ for the trial which was a ‘virtual re-run’ of the first sodomy trial.

“Najib may call elections as early as this spring, if he judges that he can win a solid majority over Anwar's fractured opposition,” he writes.

“Expect more fireworks and grandstanding in the run-up. But thankfully it will be a fair contest since Anwar won't be sitting in a jail cell.”