Malaysian leader says he's willing to face leadership challenge as party postpones polls - AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia's prime minister backed down in a high-profile dispute with the king and postponed party elections Thursday, but insisted he was not running away from rivals challenging his leadership.

The two announcements by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi revealed his increasingly shaky hold over power after leading the ruling party to humiliating losses in the March 8 general elections.

"If they (rivals within his party) have the support and are ready to challenge me, why not? Go ahead. I'm not going to run away," Abdullah said after chairing a meeting of the United Malays National Organization party's policy-making council.

Abdullah said the council decided that the party will hold elections for top office-bearers during its annual congress Dec. 16-20 - four months later than previously planned.

The Malay party is the main element of the ruling National Front coalition. By tradition its president becomes the prime minister.

Since the election debacle Abdullah has faced open calls to step down. Some feared he would lose the post of party president if the elections had been held in August.

The 68-year-old leader has seen his authority erode rapidly after the National Front lost its traditional two-thirds majority in the general elections, although it was returned to power with a simple majority. The Front also lost elections in five states. The double defeats were the worst electoral performance by the Front in the 51 years it has been in power.

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