``I am also of the opinion that the Royal Malaysia Police is fully responsible for the injuries to (Anwar) whilst in the legal custody of the police,'' Attorney-General Mohtar Abdullah said in a statement.

It was the first time that the government has admitted that Anwar's bruises and a severe black eye was caused by a police beating on the night of September 20.

Nobody knew of the beating until Anwar showed up in court for his arraignment with the ghastly bruises the next day. Anwar has repeatedly said that he was punched and kicked until he fell unconscious when he was taken to Malaysia's police headquarters by armed guards wearing ski masks who smashed through the front door of his home to grab him.

Malaysia initially responded with silence to the international outcry over the police violence onone of the country's most popular leaders. But soon an official inquiry was ordered.

The inquiry, however, failed to identify the officers responsible for beating Anwar. "Nevertheless, the investigations which have been carried out so far have not identified the person or persons responsible for such injuries,'' Mohtar said in a statement put out by the national news agency Bernama.

Malaysian prosecutors meanwhile closed their case today in the first stage of the sex and corruption trial of the former finance minister.

After eight weeks of scandalising testimony, which has become the focal point of political turmoil io the country, the prosecution said it had no more witnesses to call.

``I intend to close my case as of now,'' prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail told Judge Augustine Paul after the prosecution finished questioning its 23rd witness.

Anwar was sacked from the cabinet in September after an apparent policy rift with Premier Mahathir Mohamad. After Anwar's supporters took to the streets inprotest, he was arrested and charged with ten counts of sodomy and corruption.

Anwar denies all the charges. The court is initially considering four corruption charges. The other charges are still to be heard. The entire trial is expected to last until June.