Mahathir remains defiant

Mahathir remains defiant

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad vowed on Sunday to stay in power until "somebody shoots me or tries to assassinate me," raising doubts about expectations he would resign soon.

The 73-year-old leader, who has ruled Malaysia for 18 years, said recent calls for his resignation were in vain and that he would only relinquish power once he found a trustworthy successor.

"Even if I am cursed or even if I am told I should go away, I will stay on because I have a duty to the country," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the national Bernama news agency in London before heading to Jamaica for a summit of G-15 leaders.

Mahathir has come under unprecedented pressure to step down since last September, when he sacked his popular deputy and longtime heir apparent Anwar Ibrahim over alleged sexual misconduct.