Malaysia swears in new prime minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 22 (UPI) -- Newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Ahmad Badawi took the oath of office during a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur Monday, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The ceremony in the Throne Room of the National Palace was held a day after the National Front party won the 11th general election by more than a two-thirds majority in the 219-seat parliament.

Abdullah, 64, retained the parliamentary seat that he held since 1978, defeating opposition candidate Abdul Khalid Rasid, who also challenged him in the 1999 general election.

Abdullah said the first cabinet meeting of the new government would be Wednesday.

All the cabinet ministers were re-elected to their parliamentary seats, Xinhua said.