BEIRUT - Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wrapped up a two-day visit to Lebanon o­n yesterday with a call for closer economic ties between all Muslim states.

Mahathir, who attended a meeting here Tuesday of a fledgling Islamic Business Council to be headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, said the council could serve as the engine for encouraging trade, industrial, informatic and service links within the Muslim world.

The economic exchanges of Muslim states are generally carried out with Europe and America because people are unaware of mutual possibilities because there is no information network, he said at the meeting.

Mahathir later left here for Egypt, where he is to spend three days, which will include talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and the imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar mosque, Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi.

On Monday, he also called for closer economic links with Beirut following talks with his Lebanese opposite number, Rafiq Hariri.

"I hope this visit together with businessmen from Malaysia would help to build a greater economic interaction between Lebanon and Malaysia," he said.

Hariri was more specific in his call for closer economic ties, inviting the Malaysian business community to take part in gas exploration off Lebanon, as well as the country's mobile phone and telecommunications sectors.

"When the documentation is ready to privatise electricity, also we would like to see Malaysian businessmen participate to privatise electricity and water as well," he said.

Officials said a double-taxation treat was signed during talks between the two countries, while Mahathir said that he was working to increase air links.

Mahathir, whose country has already aided Lebanon to the tune of 600 million dollars in loans and low-interest bond subscriptions, also met President Emile Lahoud. - AFP