Qureia threatens to resign
The Palestinian Prime Minister has threatened to resign after two days in the job.
A Palestinian source said Ahmed Qureia clashed with Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat over security powers, a sticking point which prompted Qurie’s predecessor, Mahmoud Abbas, to resign as prime minister last month.
Mr Arafat’s reluctance to yield power to Mr Qureia may delay the movement on the “road map” for peace in the Middle East.
To make matters worse for Mr Arafat, Palestinian parliamentarians failed to ratify the nine member emergency cabinet after a dispute broke over its status.
And uncertainty was compounded with uncertainty after reports emerged that Mr Arafat’s missed the meeting of the Legislative Council in the West Bank city of Ramallah due a deterioration in his health.
74-year old Mr Arafat has lost about 11 lb because of a flu and stomach virus, according to doctors.
According to reports, Mr Qureia submitted a handwritten note to Mr Arafat which does not amount to an official letter of resignation.
