updated version

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is due to step down next year, announced today that he would not stand for parliament in the next elections, the official Bernama news agency reported.

It is the first time the prime minister has made his position clear on the issue since his shock announcement in June that he would quit all his top political posts.

Mahathir, who has been in power for 21 years, had previously hedged when asked whether he would seek re-election to parliament, saying in July: "I will think about it when the time comes."

An election is not due until late 2004, but there had been widespread speculation that it would be held next year, either before or after he steps down at the end of October.