The former deputy prime minister and finance minister was taken in a five-car convoy to the court house next to Merdeka (Freedom) Square in his first public appearance since he was arrested on September 20.

The attorney-general's office said Anwar would be indicted on five counts of corruption and five counts of unnatural sex acts.

``They are the only charges we have at the moment,'' a senior official in the attorney-general's office told Reuters. He said it was possible that authorities would press further charges at a later date.

As he arrived at the court, Anwar was seated in a blue vehicle flanked by two police, and wearing a white tunic.

About 100 riot police with helmets, batons and shields encircled the court house next to Merdeka Square, the focal point of anti-government demonstrations since theday of Anwar's arrest.

Police sealed off a street leading to the court house. There were very few people in the streets around the court house, and traffic was normal.

Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and at least two of their six children appeared at the court house soon after Anwar arrived.

Several of Anwar's lawyers stood with dozens of reporters outside Criminal Sessions Court room number four but were not allowed to enter.

Anwar had been held under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which provides for indefinite detention without trial, but had not been charged with any crimes.

More than a dozen of Anwar's supporters including the leader of the youth wing of prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party have also been detained under the ISA.

Anwar is under investigation for sodomy, treason and other crimes which he denies, saying he was the victim of a conspiracy to end his political career and prevent him from exposing corruption in thegovernment.

Earlier this month two men were sentenced to six months each in jail after saying they had been sodomised by Anwar. Anwar later said that the men had been forced into making false statements.

Until he was produced in court on Tuesday, the former cabinet minister had not been seen in public since the night of his arrest. His wife had expressed concern over his safety.

Before he was arrested, Anwar said police were preparing at least 21 charges.

On Monday evening, police wielding batons and shields broke up a protest by several thousand demonstrators calling for Mahathir to step down. It was the fifth demonstration in the last nine days in the capital.

The official Bernama news agency said 75 protesters were detained during Monday's demonstration for participating in an illegal assembly. Witnesses said police beat some protesters with batons after detaining them.

Malaysia has come under mounting foreign pressure to ensure that Anwar, Mahathir's former heir-apparent, is guaranteed an opentrial.

London-based Amnesty International has said it considered Anwar to be a prisoner of conscience.