Anwar wanted treatment for a back injury he says was caused by police

Anwar reacted in court by shouting that the judges were "spineless".

He had asked to be freed from prison pending an appeal against a conviction for sodomy so he could travel abroad for medical treatment.

His appeal was being watched for signs of a new approach to the case, now the country's new Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi, has taken office.

Judges are running away, shame on you Anwar Ibrahim

"We are unanimous in our conclusion that the first applicant (Anwar) had failed to demonstrate reasonably to our satisfaction that his case is within the category of 'special or exceptional circumstances' which warrants his release on bail pending appeal," the panel of appeal court judges said in a written judgement after the hearing.

The court also ruled that it does not have the power to review its decision last year to reject his appeal against Anwar's conviction for sodomy.

The BBC's Jonathan Kent in Kuala Lumpur says this is very nearly the end of the legal road for Anwar. The former deputy prime minister must now turn to Malaysia's highest judicial authority, the federal court.

Mr Anwar's reaction to the ruling was scathing.

He accused the three of being "under the thumb of the executive", and when they demanded his lawyer restrain him and then walked out of the courtroom, Anwar shouted after them: "Judges are running away, shame on you."

Our correspondent says the ruling was being seen as a test of the pledge by the country's new Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi to uphold judicial independence.

Our correspondent says the court's decision will do nothing to sway those sceptics who doubt Mr Abdullah's sincerity.

Anwar was jailed in 1999 for corruption after a trial widely seen as politically motivated. It followed his disagreement with then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad over how to run the country's economy.

In 2000, he received a further nine years for sodomy.

He had appealed for bail against this second conviction, so he could travel abroad for treatment for spinal injuries he said were caused by the country's former police chief when he was first arrested.

Anwar is regarded by the international community as a political prisoner. On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch urged the court to grant him bail.

"Releasing Anwar would end the injustice he's suffered and signal a renewed spirit of independence for Malaysia's judiciary," said Brad Adams, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division.