Mahathir, in an interview with Japan's Mainichi Shimbun, said he met General Than Shwe during a week-long visit to Myanmar earlier this month and proposed elections to promote national reconciliation.

"He (Than Shwe) is willing to do the elections eventually. Well, the election will not be held this year or next. It should be held in a few years," Mahathir was quoted as saying.

"They will have to determine proper voter registration. You have to do it step by step."

Mahathir, quoted in a transcript provided to AFP by the newspaper, said he himself believed elections should eventually be held but added that "before they hold elections, they must understand the conduct of elections.

"We see sometimes the elections being held in many countries but that does not reflect the feelings of people," Mahathir was quoted as saying.

"When an election is held, people must learn the limits of elections. Not use elections to undermine authority."

Asked if the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was changing its policy of non-interference by calling for an election, Mahathir said: "No. It is because Myanmar is a special case. The West is trying to pressure Myanmar, pressure ASEAN."

He said ASEAN, which Myanmar joined in 1997 with Malaysia's backing, did not want to interfere in each other's internal affairs but to foster democracy in Myanmar.

"We feel that the benefits of a kind of liberal democracy in ASEAN member countries should be exposed and made known to the people and government of Myanmar, so they will not reject the system because this system is good and ensures the country can have the government of its choice," Mahathir was quoted as saying.

The junta, which is now chaired by Than Shwe, ignored the result of a 1990 election which the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) won by a landslide.

Mahathir's visit coincided with one by the UN special envoy to Myanmar, Razali Ismail, who is a former Malaysian diplomat.

The interview with the newspaper was conducted during the Malaysian leader's visit to a symposium at Osaka in western Japan on January 20. It was the first report that Mahathir himself had attempted to break the political deadlock between the junta and the NLD.

Razali confirmed this month that the junta had held secret talks with NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi -- their first dialogue since 1994.

Mahathir said the conflict between Aung San Suu Kyi and the government could not be solved by confrontation.

"What is needed is to put the interest of Myanmar above party interests. And I think the government is willing to discuss with Aung San Suu Kyi to find and to do something to find solutions for Myanmar," he was quoted as saying.

Asked if he was willing to become a mediator, Mahathir said it was best to leave this to the United Nations.

Mahathir, who visited Myanmar on behalf on ASEAN, said the West should not interfere in its affairs. "The less the West interferes, the better solving the problems. Let the people of Myanmar decide for themselves."

He said the government was doing its best to develop the country and defended the junta against widespread Western charges that it uses forced labour.

"For a government that is poor it is a way of taxing the people -- contributing the labour instead of money," Mahathir was quoted as saying.