Mahathir sets date to step down - CNN

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Asia's longest-serving democratically-elected leader, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, will stand down on October 31.

Mahathir's weekend comments to reporters in Monaco marked the first time he had put a specific date on his resignation after 22 years in power.

Mahathir, 77, announced his retirement last year but agreed to a transition period that would have him hand over power to his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, after Malaysia hosts a summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference next month.

"I may be healthy, but I have been prime minister too long," Mahathir told Malaysian students Saturday during a visit to Monaco. "It's time to move on and pass the job to someone else," The Associated Press quoted him as saying.

Asked by reporters whether he has set a definite retirement date, Mahathir said: "It will be on the last day of October."

Mahathir added he would not change his mind. "If I do, my credibility will be gone," he was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper.

[More at http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/09/29/malaysia.mahathir/index.html]