Malaysia's Anwar jailed for five years after losing appeal in sodomy trial

(Reuters) - Malaysia's highest court rejected on Tuesday an appeal by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against a sodomy conviction, sending the politician who poses the greatest threat to the long-ruling coalition back to prison for five years. The U.N. Human Rights office, the United States and Australia said they were disappointed by the ruling and Amnesty International said it would have a chilling effect on freedom of expression. Anwar, the ruling party's rising star in the mid-1990s before he fell out with then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, denied the charge that led to his second conviction for sodomy as a fabrication aimed at ending his political career. "I will walk again for the third time into prison but rest assured that I will walk in with my head held high," a defiant Anwar said in a statement he read out in court. "I maintain my innocence."