Letter: In Brief

Sir: It must have been at about the time that Robin Cook, during the Queen's visit to Malaysia, was seen chatting amicably with Mahathir Mohamad that Anwar Ibrahim was being beaten to a pulp in a police cell ("Battered Anwar in court at last", 30 September).

If Mr Cook continues to "do business" with the current regime in Malaysia, then his "ethical foreign policy" will be seen for what it probably always was - a cynical piece of political window-dressing devoid of any substance.

BARBARA A WATTS

Nottingham