KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's highest court found opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim guilty on charges of sodomy on Tuesday in a case that his supporters say was politically motivated, and will likely
end a career marked by controversy.

The Federal Court's judgment
upholds a ruling by the Court of
Appeal in March last year, which
found the 67-year-old guilty of
sodomizing a former political aide.
He is expected to be sentenced later on Tuesday.

Hundreds of Anwar supporters,
surrounded by dozens of police,
gathered outside the court in Kuala
Lumpur waving party flags and
shouting "Down with Barisan
Nasional".

The ruling may spark protests after
opposition gains in a 2013 general
election raised the possibility of a
genuine challenge for the Barisan
Nasional coalition that has ruled
since 1957.

The conviction disqualifies Anwar
from political office and contesting
the next election that must be held
by 2018.

Human Rights Watch decried what it
called Anwar's "selective
persecution".

Prime Minister Najib Razak's
government has rejected any
suggestion of interference in the
case.