``I came to a conclusion he is not fit to become my successor,'' said Mahathir who arrived in Tokyo on Friday on his first overseas visit since Anwar's arrest. Anwar, who was sacked on September 2 and was arrested on September 20, has denied the five charges of corruption and five of sodomy levelled against him.

When Anwar appeared in court nine days after his arrest he had a black eye and brusing on his arm. He said he had been handcuffed and blindfolded by police before being punched and slapped about the head and neck until he passed out.

Mahathir said the Anwar situation, and Malaysia's economic crisis made him change his plan about resigning after the Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation forum in Kuala Lumpur next month, the Mainichi, Yomiuri Shimbun, and the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said. He told the Japanese media he would now decide on his sucessor at a meeting of the ruling United Malays National Organisation next year.

Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, thousands of protesters supporting Anwar launched a fresh anti-government protest calling on Mahathir to resign. Despite the presence of hundreds of police, some 3,000 demonstrators chanting ``Mahathir resign!'' and ``Reformasi!'' defiantly held up placards oustide a Japanese department store which had closed earlier. Other placards called on Mahathir, to ``Retreat or accept defeat'' while some read ``We Love Anwar''.