Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad left here today for official visits to Russia, Germany and Poland to hold talks focused on trade and defence.

Mahathir, who begins his trip in Russia and ends it in Poland on March 22, was due to hold discussions with the countries' leaders "on many issues", his press secretary, Zakaria Abdul Wahab, told AFP .

"He will meet the leaders, and talks will focus on trade and defence, as well as information technology," Zakaria said.

Mahathir was accompanied by his wife Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali, three cabinet ministers, top government officials and businessmen.

The visit to Russia was initially scheduled to take place in September last year but was postponed because of the terror attacks on New York and Washington.

Military ties

Russia announced last October that it would export anti-tank missile systems to Malaysia under the terms of a partnership deal dating back to 1994, when Russia sold MiG-29 fighter jets to Malaysia.

In Moscow, Mahathir is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin and is scheduled to witness a demonstration of the Sukhoi SU-30 fighter aircraft.

This will be Mahathir's third visit to Russia, but his first official trip to Germany, where he will meet Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and business leaders.

Germany has overtaken Britain to become Malaysia's largest trading partner within the European Union in the past two years.

In Poland, Mahathir is expected to meet with his Polish counterpart, Leszek Miller, and call on President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

Mahathir is also scheduled to view armoured defence equipment in Warsaw and a navy fleet demonstration in Gdansk.