Anwar leaves Turkish embassy (Malaysiakini)

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim walked out from the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur at 6.45pm today where he took refuge after being hit with sodomy accusations.

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He told journalists that he had decided to leave the embassy after getting assurance of his safety from three ministers - Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

He added that the sodomy allegations were meant to derail the annoucement of a by-election in which he would be contesting to pave the way for his return to Parliament.

Anwar also claimed that four parliamentarians from the ruling Barisan Nasional component parties - of whom two were from Umno - will be defecting to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat this week.

The PKR de facto leader was accompanied by his wife PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, vice-president Azmin Ali and lawyer Sankara Nair.

He left in a car after his six-minute press conference outside the Turkish ambassador's residence, which is about 15-minute walk from the embassy.

Malaysiakini learnt that he is returning to his home in Bukit Segambut before calling a press conference later tonight at the party headquarters in Tropicana, Petaling Jaya.

Anwar is expected to speak to party supporters at 9pm tonight at the PKR headquarters.

Earlier today, he said he would not leave the embassy until the government guaranteed his safety.

"I need categorical assurance on my safety," said Anwar.

The PKR de facto leader had holed up at the Turkish embassy from 6am yesterday, saying that he feared for his life.