Asia's longest serving leader said eliminating the veto would take a long time but should be pursued.

"This is something undemocratic and yet we know that all these countries are talking about democracy," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency on his return from a trip abroad which included an address to the UN General Assembly.

"They want this world to become democratic to the extent that they are prepared to resort to violence to force other nations to accept the democratic system."

The 77-year-old premier said the five permanent members regarded the veto power as their "special right" and this was unacceptable.

"In democracy, we cannot accept such special rights. It has to have the agreement of all parties. It is very obvious that the majority of UN member countries are unhappy over the current situation," he said.

The Security Council's five permanent members are Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

In his final address Thursday to the UN General Assembly before retiring next month, Mahathir called for the veto system to be abolished in favor of a scheme in which two permanent members would have to secure the support of three elected members to block a resolution.

In time, though, even that revised system should be scrapped in favor of majority votes, he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia's veteran Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said in remarks published yesterday that his decision to step down on October 31 after 22 years in power was final.

"I may be healthy but I have been prime minister for too long. It's time I move on and pass the job to someone else," he was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times.

But Mahathir,77, promised to continue serving his United Malays National Organisation ahead of general elections widely expected to be called early next week.

The Southeast Asian leader has pledged to hand over the reins to his deputy and anointed successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.