Breaking News: Malaysia's opposition says in handover talks with government

Malaysia's opposition says in handover talks with government
(1 hr 1 min ago)
23 Sept, 2008
Malaysia's opposition said it has begun negotiations with the ruling coalition over a transition of power, after it claimed to have signed up enough defectors to topple the government.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has refused to meet with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim but officials said contacts are being made through intermediaries.

"There is initial contact between our middleperson and Abdullah's middleperson,'' said Tian Chia, information chief of Anwar's Keadilan party.

"Our intention in holding them is for a transition of power to the opposition but I cannot speak for the other side,'' he told AFP.

Tian Chua said contact was made initially on the weekend and that more than one meeting had taken place.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE