The variational reaction theory is applied to obtain the (

)formulation for the scattering problem when a plane wave is obliquely incident upon an inhomogeneous and anisotropic dielectric cylinder. The variational equation is then solved by the finite element method together with the frontal solution technique. Numerical results for scattering cross sections of anisotropic LiNbO
3cylinders are included to discuss the influence due to material anisotropy and oblique incidence. Also depicted is the guiding characteristics of the cylinder when the inhomogeneous wave is considered, in addition, the formulas of scattering cross sections at low frequencies are derived and compared with the numerical results.