Financier Soros in Mahathir call

Financier Soros in Mahathir call

WASHINGTON (Reuters): International financier George Soros
called on Thursday for the ouster of Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad and the release of the country's former finance
minister, Anwar Ibrahim.

In remarkably blunt comments, Soros -- chairman of Soros Fund
Management and adviser to the Quantum Fund -- said Malaysians
should turn against Mahathir because his policies aimed to keep
him in office and benefit his political allies.

Mahathir has previously denied allegations that he has favored
friends in business deals and tolerated corruption.

Soros, whose comments are closely watched in financial
markets, and Mahathir have clashed frequently about economic
issues, especially about Malaysian demands for controls on
capital movements.