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| Middle East |
| Yasser names Mahmoud Abbas as prime minister |
| 2003-03-06 |
| Palestinian Authority Chairman-for-Life Yasser Arafat has decided to appoint the PLO's second-in-command, Mahmoud Abbas, as prime minister of the PA. The Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Ahmed Qurei, announced Thursday night that Arafat offered the job to Abbas, who is also known as Abu Mazen. A senior Palestinian official in Ramallah confirmed that Abbas was offered the job. He said Arafat's offer to Abbas followed a series of consultations with several Palestinian officials, including Fatah activists. Arafat has come under pressure from Fatah leaders in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to appoint Abbas to the top job. Abbas, 68, enjoys the support of the majority of Palestinian officials and Fatah activists. His appointment is expected to be endorsed by the Palestinian Legislative Council, which is expected to hold a special session in Ramallah next week. Israel has agreed to allow most of the 84 members of the PLC to attend the session. At least 20 legislators from the Gaza Strip have been denied permission to travel to Ramallah because of their involvement in terror activities. The PLO's central council is also expected to hold a meeting in Ramallah on Saturday to discuss the appointment of a prime minister for the PA. The PLO sesion is expected to discuss the powers of the prime minister and the amendment of the PA's Basic Law so it would include the position of premier. Earlier, Palestinian Cabinet Secretary-General Ahmed Abdel Rahman said that the new prime minister should be elected from within the ranks of the Fatah movement. He said all the names that are being mentioned in the Israeli and foreign media as candidates for the job are based on speculation only. "The most suitable candidate for the job should be a member of Fatah," Abdel Rahman explained. "He should work towards establishing a Palestinian state, which is the goal of Fatah, which represents all forms of Palestinian struggle." Abdel Rahman's remarks came in response to rumors according to which Arafat has decided to appoint Munib al Masri, a millionaire from Nablus, as prime minister. Masri said Thursday that he has never received such an offer from anyone in the Palestinian Authority. Couldn't afford it, huh? |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #1 The poor bastard... |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-03-06 20:47:07 |