Malaysia's prime minister to hand over power to deputy, but no deadline set

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - News reports say Malaysia's prime minister has accepted responsibility for his ruling coalition's poor election results and will plan how to hand over power to his deputy after December.

The national news agency Bernama says Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will discuss a power transition with his deputy, Najib Razak.

International Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said late Friday that "matters such as when the transition will take place and so on will be discussed" between Abdullah and Najib. Consumer Affairs Ministers Shahrir Samad says the discussion will begin after the ruling party's annual congress in December.

© The Canadian Press, 2008