``I have decided to dispute the decision to sack me as deputy prime minister and finance minister by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad,'' Anwar said in a statement read out by his wife Azizah after her husband's trial on four corruption charges broke off ahead of the APEC summit.

Anwar, facing 10 corruption and sodomy charges, said he had been advised his sacking was ``illegal and contradicts the constitution.'' Anwar's lawyer Karpal Singh will file the court action on Anwar's behalf later on Friday.

Mahathir said Anwar's September 2 dismissal was due to sexual misconduct but Singh, an Opposition MP, told parliament this week it was unconstitutional.

Singh had questioned whether proper procedures were followed when Mahathir sacked Anwar.

Among the points raised was whether Mahathir had sought theking's advice, as under the constitution, the prime minister must consult the monarch of his decision to remove any minister.

Deputy minister in the prime minister's department Mohamed Nazri Aziz replied Mahathir had informed King Tuanku Jaffar.

Anwar's trial was adjourned on Friday and will resume on November 23, five days after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit ends.Justice Augustine Paul said the trial on four of the corruption charges, which has already lasted two weeks, might take another two or three weeks to conclude.

``The actual length of time I really would not know. I have no control over that but it will go on until it is over,'' Judge Paul said after lawyers asked how long the trial would last.

Mahathir said on Thursday that he expected Anwar's supporters to take to the streets to demonstrate during the APEC summit ``as they want to make the most out of it.'' Anwar's supporters have been holding weekly demonstrations since his dismissal to press his case.

Meanwhile, USSecretary of State Madeleine Albright is expected to meet Anwar's wife Azizah during her stay here for the APEC ministerial talks, a US embassy spokeswoman said, saying no date had been fixed.

However ``it appears unlikely'' US President Bill Clinton, who will also attend the summit talks, will meet her, she said.

The US embassy in Kuala Lumpur said in a statement that Albright ``looks forward to meeting with her.'' Azizah has been lobbying with foreign governments to speak out in favour of her husband. Anwar complained he was beaten up by police after his arrest under the draconian Internal Security Act. His trial opened on November 2 amid huge international interest.Clinton and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien have declined traditional one-on-one meetings with Mahathir to protest Anwar's treatment.

In a show of disapproval for the Malaysian government's treatment of Anwar, Albright will not be holding any meetings with Malaysian officials, State Department spokesman James Rubin had saidearlier.

``We have concerns about the political situation there and it is possible that Secretary Albright will find a way before leaving Malaysia to make clear that concern,'' he said.