Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be o­n a two-month leave beginning Thursday till May 4.

According to a Bernama report today, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be the acting premier and finance minister during this period.

Prior to going o­n leave, Mahathir will attend the two-day Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) emergency meeting in Qatar, which starts tomorrow. The meting to is to discuss the impending war against Iraq.

The Bernama report which quoted a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail had been notified that Abdullah would be the acting premier.

During his leave, Mahathir would make working visits to Brazil and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The 77-year-old leader, who has been in office for 22 years, is scheduled to step down in October after chairing the OIC meet in Kuala Lumpur and be replaced by Abdullah.