Malaysian police arrested the sacked finance minister, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, yesterday, hours after he led thousands of angry demonstrators through the streets of the capital calling on Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to resign.
Armed police led Mr Anwar from his suburban home to a white police van as about 2,000 supporters shouted "Reformasi" (Reform) and "Long Live Anwar".
About 100 riot police with shields and batons surrounded the van before it drove away with Mr Anwar inside.
His lawyer, Mr Christopher Fernando, told reporters inside Mr Anwar's house that the former cabinet minister was being taken to federal police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to be indicted for sexual indecency.
Mr Anwar's adopted brother and a former speechwriter pleaded guilty in court on Saturday to being sodomised by Mr Anwar. Sodomy is a crime in Malaysia.
Mr Mahathir sacked Mr Anwar as deputy prime minister and finance minister on September 2nd, calling him morally unfit.
Mr Anwar is under investigation for sodomy, treason, corruption and other crimes, which he has denied, saying he was the victim of a conspiracy to end his political career.
Earlier yesterday riot police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of angry protesters calling on Mr Mahathir to step down after 17 years in power.
A phalanx of riot police with shields drove demonstrators away from the prime minister's official residence after they had marched through the streets of Kuala Lumpur in a rare public protest against Mr Mahathir's 17-year rule.
At the foot of a hill leading to his official residence, about 30 riot police with shields and batons charged the crowd of Anwar supporters, who threw rocks.
Police then fired several rounds of tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
The political unrest coincided with the arrival of Queen Elizabeth in the Malaysian capital for a four-day visit and with the final hours of the 16th Commonwealth Games, which have drawn international attention towards Malaysia.
The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, who had been scheduled to leave Kuala Lumpur on Monday, said he had decided to remain with the queen until she was to leave on Wednesday, due to the events in Malaysia.
Earlier Mr Anwar led about 30,000 protesters denouncing Mr Mahathir, who has ruled the south-east Asian nation since 1981 and leads a coalition with a crushing majority in parliament.
"This is the first time this has happened in Malaysia," said Mamat, a 26-year old college lecturer among the demonstrators. "People are very angry. We don't want Mahathir any more."
"People are angry at Mahathir," said a 21-year-old marcher who asked not to be identified. "Indonesia used to be a military country, then students took to the streets. We are very, very angry."
Mr Mahathir dismissed Mr Anwar's movement yesterday, calling it a "minor" distraction. Bolstered by the smooth running of the Commonwealth Games, which Queen Elizabeth is to close today, Mr Mahathir said he could easily win a snap election.