Anwar Ibrahim AP PHOT

Malaysia's opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, said an explosive sodomy accusation brought by a male aide is part of a political conspiracy to keep him from running for Parliament, a key step in his goal to become prime minister.

He told media June 30 he was about to announce his candidacy for a Parliament by-election and present four lawmakers who are willing to defect from the governing National Front coalition to the opposition.

"It is precisely because of this reason that they have created this mess," said Anwar, who faced a similar sodomy accusation in 1998 when he was deputy prime minister.

In the latest case, police say a 23-year-old aide filed a complaint June 28 that Anwar had sodomized him.