Malaysia's Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, may have got rid of his most bitter rival and one-time protege, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, who was sentenced to six years in prison yesterday.
However, the price has been a serious loss to Dr Mahathir's personal standing at home and to Malaysia's prestige abroad.
Mr Anwar, who has said he will appeal, was convicted on four corruption charges, leading to street disturbances and widespread international condemnation.
The rioting died down yesterday evening but from around the world came messages of support for the Anwar family and criticism of the outcome of what is universally seen as a political trial.
Mr Anwar told the court bitterly the verdict "stank to high heaven". Amnesty International said the conviction was politically motivated and called for his immediate release.
Mr Anwar's wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, also said her husband was a victim of a conspiracy.
The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, said aspects of the case give real cause for concern, "in particular the relationship between the executive and the judiciary in Malaysia."
Closer to home, Philippines President Joseph Estrada urged Mr Anwar to keep on fighting as "good will always have its day".
Mr Anwar (51) who was sacked by Dr Mahathir in September, was described by Mr John Malott, the US ambassador to Malaysia until last year, as the world's "newest and most famous political prisoner."
Mr Anwar claimed in court that he had been subject to a corruption trial because he had tried to expose corruption at high levels in the Malaysian government.
Shortly after his conviction, furious protesters took to the streets around Kuala Lumpur's high court. They were pursued by police who used water cannon, batons and little restraint in trying to restore order.
At the height of the rioting, police entered the compound of a mosque near the courthouse and arrested 14 people who had fled inside. Mr Zulkifli Nordin, one of Mr Anwar's lawyers, persuaded the men to come out to avoid having riot police enter a sacred building.
By evening the streets around the city centre were littered with debris and the blackened remains of bonfires. Several demonstrators were beaten and bloodied by police but no serious injuries were reported.
The Malaysian government appealed for calm last night, saying the population must accept the verdict of the court.
Opponents of the Government held a rally at the headquarters of the Islamic Pas Party in Kuala Lumpur last night. One opposition leader, Mr Lim Kit Siang, said the conviction was "an even bigger black eye in Malaysia" than that inflicted on Mr Anwar in detention on September 21st. Mr Chandra Muzaffar, vice-president of the National Justice Party, founded by Mr Anwar's wife, said the six-year sentence could provoke a strong reaction within the ruling UMNO party.
"The sentence is so severe that a lot of UMNO members who were fence-sitters are going to be convinced that it was a political decision, " he said.
Mr Anwar will serve four years under Malaysian law but he will be banned from political activity for five years after that.