 Mahmud Abbas was formally sworn in as Yasser Arafat's successor as president of the Palestinian Authority on Saturday at a ceremony in parliament in Ramallah. Abbas swore to "safeguard the interests of the Palestinian people" as he placed his hand on a copy of the holy Qoran. Parliament speaker Rawhi Fattuh, who has been caretaker head of the Palestinian Authority since Arafat's death on November 11, then resumed his post. Abbas indicated on Saturday that he would ask the current prime minister Ahmed Qorei to stay on to form a new government. "I repeat my confidence in Abu Alaa (Qorei) and I want to consult him on forming the government according to the law," Abbas said in his inauguration speech at the Palestinian parliament. |