Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, one of Asia's longest-serving and most controversial leaders, retired today.
His departure brought Asian praise and Western silence after an international outcry over his remarks about Jews.
In a sombre ceremony at the royal palace following prayers at the national mosque, Malaysia's King Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail accepted Mr Mahathir's resignation and swore in his successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The 78-year-old leader spent much of his time rubbing Western governments the wrong way, while becoming a respected spokesman within the Islamic and developing worlds.
But his speech to an Islamic summit two weeks before he stepped down, in which he referred to what he called Jewish domination of the world, raised a storm of protest from the United States, Western Europe, Australia and Israel.
Leaving his old office for the last time, Mr Mahathir was asked by journalists if he had any advice for President George W Bush.
He replied, 'It doesn't pay not to tell the truth.'
