3rd lawmaker quits Anwar's party in Malaysia

A lawmaker resigned Wednesday from Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's party, the third to quit in three weeks, fueling speculation of a coming wave of defections to the ruling coalition.

Like the other two, Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri said he was leaving Anwar's People's Justice Party to become an independent lawmaker.

The resignations are a major blow to Anwar as he faces trial on sodomy charges. The trial has been a huge distraction, preventing him from addressing festering discontentment and bickering among the party's regional chieftains.