KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will hold a news conference Thursday (9 Oct) in Terengganu to answer queries on the transition of power between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and him.

Najib's press secretary Datuk Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahmad told Bernama that the deputy prime minister will meet the press during the visit to the east coast state.

He said Najib would launch the countdown for the FEI-World Endurance Championship 2008 at the Gong Badak sports complex in the morning and meet state Umno liaison leaders at the Primula Beach Resort Hotel in the afternoon.

Earlier Wednesday (8 Oct), Abdullah, after meeting Barisan Nasional (BN) component party leaders, announced that he would not defend the Umno president's post at the party general assembly in March next year to pave the way for a smooth transition of power.

Abdullah also said that Najib would take over the post of prime minister after the Umno general assembly. (Bernama)