'Troubling and disturbing'

WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin on Wednesday sharply criticised Anwar's conviction, calling the Malaysian judicial process flawed and troubling.

Addressing an audience at Johns Hopkins University, Rubin said Anwar had been a key figure in international efforts to reform the world financial system until his removal from office by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad last year.

"I think what is happening in Malaysia with Anwar is an extremely troubling and disturbing situation,'' Rubin said. ``The world is rightly focused on what's happening there.''

Rubin's deputy Lawrence Summers is scheduled to travel to Malaysia next month for a meeting of financial leaders from the Pacific Rim, the so-called Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation council.

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