BERLIN - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder today congratulated new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on his swearing-in after controversial premier Mahathir Mohamed stepped down.

"I look forward to close cooperation with you and wish you luck in your new post," Schroeder said in a telegram.

"Since we met this spring, I would like to welcome you to Germany when you have the opportunity," he said, referring to a visit earlier this year to Southeast Asia.

Abdullah, 63, took the oath of office Friday as Malaysia's fifth prime minister since independence from Britain in 1957 as Mahathir, 77, followed through on a pledge to retire first made 16 months ago.

The German foreign ministry had earlier this month summoned the Malaysian charge d'affaires in Berlin to protest at a statement made by Mohamad in a speech to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference summit in Malaysia.

The outgoing premier had asserted that Jews rule the world by proxy. - AFP