KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed regret at the use of a video clip that purportedly showed he admitted that he had framed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Dr Mahathir said those who attended the talk understood the context of his speech but the Opposition took one part and distorted it.

His son, Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, said his father explained what had actually taken place at a Barisan Nasional gathering in Shah Alam on Monday.

He said the family was aware of how the video clip had been distorted and used to mislead the public.

The video clip has been posted on Opposition websites to give the impression that Dr Mahathir had confessed to the purported trumped-up charges.

At the gathering, Dr Mahathir also refuted claims that he was sympathetic to them, saying he had never supported them.

He also denied that his former political secretary, Datuk Seri Aziz Abdul Shamsuddin, had a hand in the 1998 court case against Anwar.

Dr Mahathir reiterated that he received information from the police and then discussed it with the mentris besar and Umno supreme council members before a decision was made.

http://www.thestar.com.my/election/story.asp?file=/2008/3/5/election2008/20543387&sec=Election2008