Malaysia PM may step down early

MALAYSIA: A special meeting of the top council of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) will discuss a plan for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down in June 2009, a party source said on Thursday.

Abdullah had previously said he would step down in 2010 in favour of his deputy Najib Razak.

UMNO is the leading party in Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and its supreme council is holding a special meeting on Friday, Najib told a news conference earlier in the day.

KUALA LUMPUR, Thursday, Reuters