Mahathir withdraws resignation

Mahathir withdraws resignation

MALAYSIA: Malaysia's veteran Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, having offered to quit all posts in his party and the ruling coalition, has withdrawn his offer, his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Saturday.

"We took quite a long time. And after that, he agreed that I announce that he will continue to hold his posts," Abdullah announced to cheers from his party's annual assembly.

Minutes before, Mahathir was led weeping from the rostrum after making his shock announcement at the end of his United Malays National Organization's (UMNO) conference.

"I would like to take this opportunity to announce my resignation from my post as UMNO president and all the posts I hold in the party, my resignation as chairman of Barisan Nasional and all posts in the Barisan Nasional," Mahathir told a stunned auditorium, packed with over 2,000 party faithful.

He is Asia's longest-serving elected leader and has ruled Malaysia for 21 years, leading the multiracial Barisan Nasional coalition. -- Reuters