Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he will not ask for anything from Washington or compromise Malaysia's position on international issues when he meets President George W Bush, a newspaper reported today.

Mahathir said his trip was "just to improve US-Malaysia ties", which were icy during the administration of former president Bill Clinton, and that Malaysians should not expect more than that from his 35-minute meeting with Bush on Tuesday.

"I shall not ask for anything and shall not compromise on our positions. However, we will have to correct our relationship with them," the 76-year-old outspoken leader was quoted as saying by the Utusan Malaysia .

Mahathir said "nothing major" will come out of the meeting and "my expectations are not high. I am not the type of person who likes to dream."

Mahathir, who was to begin his visit to the US today, has opposed US policy in Israel and called for an end to sanctions against Iraq.

Critics and human rights groups have accused Mahathir, who has been in power since July 1981, of practising an autocratic style of leadership and bending most institutions to his iron will.

Mahathir will be in Washington until Wednesday for a visit analysts and diplomats describe as timely for enhancing cooperation in the fight against terrorism and addressing other global concerns.

He left Kuala Lumpur late Saturday for London en route to Washington.

Different view

Mahathir said he will present a different view about the Palestinian struggle and the war against terrorism during his meeting with Bush, adding it was wrong for the US to deal with the issue of terrorism solely with military might.

"It would be a mistake for the US to ignore the views of other nations in facing today's problems," he said.

The United States is Malaysia's top trading partner and a key foreign investor.

During the visit, Mahathir is expected to meet White House National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Collin Powell and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Mahathir, who is also the finance minister, will also meet Federal Reserve Board chairman Alan Greenspan.

US-Malaysia ties have improved since the Sept 11 attacks in the United States, with Washington praising Malaysia's cooperation in efforts to combat terrorism.

Ties had soured in the past after Clinton's deputy Al Gore voiced support for anti-government demonstrators at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.