Mahathir fears assassination

Mahathir fears assassination

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said political opposition against him had turned into a national security problem and that even his own life is threatened, the national news agency Bernama reported on Thursday.

"They have become so bold as to call on Muslims to wage war and kill this person and that person," Mahathir told reporters late Wednesday after a meeting of the governing United Malays National Organization, Bernama said.

He said tapes containing messages aimed at inciting Muslims to kill him had been distributed widely throughout Malaysia.

The reported comments mark the first time since the opposition against him swelled last year that the threat of a political assassination has been mentioned.