``There was a change in his attitude towards me to finish me off,'' he said on the fourth day in the witness box in his corruption trial.

Anwar, said his `heated exchange' with Mahathir came a few days before he was sacked last September 2. ``I had to ask the PM three times whether he gave specific instructions to the police to frame and fabricate charges against me because throughout the one year investigation ... they did not find anything incriminating.''

Anwar is on trial on four charges of corruption alleging he abused his position to get police to cover up sexual misconduct allegations. He also faces a fifth corruption charge and five counts of sodomy.

During the meeting, Anwar said he was `alleged to have encouraged the ACA (Anti-Corruption Agency) to go after the PM.'

Justice Augustine Paul warned Anwarhis evidence was veering towards allegations of a political conspiracy -- which he had on Tuesday ruled as `irrelevant' to the trial.

Justice Paul has since ordered a media blackout on remarks allegedly made by Mahathir and former police Chief Rahim Noor in separate meetings with Anwar. During Thursday's hearing, Anwar said he appealed to Mahathir before he was sacked, saying he had `worked diligently and selflessly for the party and the government.'