The Palestinian parliament averted a crisis tonight by approving a new 24-member Cabinet dominated by academics after a major move toward long-promised government reform.

The Palestinian parliament today approved a cabinet dominated by professional appointees, including nearly half with doctoral degrees, in a major move toward long-promised government reform.

Yasser Arafat’s nephew said today the lack of a diagnosis, despite extensive tests, into his uncle’s death last month raised suspicions the late-Palestinian leader died of “unnatural” causes.

Fathi Arafat, the brother of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and founder of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, has died. He was 67.

Fathi Arafat, the brother of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and founder of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, died today. He was 67.

YASSER Arafat's nephew was yesterday given the late Palestinian leader's medical records and said they give no clear diagnosis for the cause of his death.

Yasser Arafat ‘s nephew was given the late Palestinian leader’s medical records today and said they give no clear diagnosis for the cause of his death.

France gave Yasser Arafat’s medical records to his nephew today, despite objections from the late Palestinian leader’s widow.

Yasser Arafat’s nephew plans to collect the Palestinian leader’s medical records today, but faces objections from Arafat’s widow, whose lawyers insist is the only one who has legal rights to the file.

YASSER Arafat’s nephew, Nasser al-Kidwa, arrived in Paris yesterday to collect the Palestinian leader’s medical records, which could explain the cause of his death.

Yasser Arafat’s medical records are in the hands of his widow, who is deciding whether to make the information public.

The Palestinian prime minister promised today to make public the cause of Yasser Arafat’s death as an emissary was sent to Paris to pick up his medical records.

YASSER Arafat’s nephew, who has called for an investigation into the Palestinian leader’s death in France, is being allowed access to his medical records.

Yasser Arafat’s nephew, who has called for an investigation into the Palestinian leader’s death in France, can have access to his medical records, officials said today.

With Yasser Arafat in “the final phase of his life”, the Palestinian leader’s political heirs completed his burial arrangements today and made plans for a funeral as soon as Friday.

Comatose Yasser Arafat’s condition worsened today as Palestinian officials visited their critically ill leader, ignoring his wife’s angry objections.

Comatose Yasser Arafat’s condition worsened today as Palestinian officials visited their critically ill leader, ignoring his wife’s angry objections.

THE United States has vetoed an Arab-backed resolution demanding Israel immediately end military operations in the northern Gaza Strip and withdraw its troops, saying the measure was “lopsided and unbalanced” and “absolves terrorists in the Middle East”.

The United States has vetoed an Arab-backed resolution demanding Israel immediately end military operations in the northern Gaza Strip and withdraw its troops, saying the measure was “lopsided and unbalanced” and “absolves terrorists in the Middle East".

The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted a resolution demanding that Israel comply with a world court decision and tear down the barrier it is building to seal off the West Bank.

Palestinians were trying to rally the EU to support a UN resolution today demanding that Israel accept a world court ruling and tear down the barrier it is building to seal off the West Bank.

PALESTINIANS urged the World Court yesterday to declare Israel’s ‘Berlin Wall’ illegal, arguing it would wreck the chances of a peaceful settlement in the Middle East.

The UN General Assembly approved a resolution today asking the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s construction of a separation wall.

THE United Nations General Assembly demanded yesterday that Israel halt building work on a barrier jutting deep into the West Bank and pull down the section already built.

The UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding that Israel halt threats to expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat but also condemning suicide bombings by Palestinians.

YASSER ARAFAT yesterday dismissed the US veto of a UN resolution against Israel's threats to expel him, saying the step will not "shake us".

The US vetoed a UN resolution that called on Israel to halt threats to expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from the West Bank.

DEVELOPING nations yesterday agreed on draft recommendations that Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas be treated as war crimes, delegates said.

The Palestinian UN observer has demanded the world condemn Israel for "obstructing" a fact-finding team investigate Israel's attack on the Jenin refugee camp.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he plans to disband a fact-finding team today that was to investigate the Israeli assault of the Jenin refugee camp.

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a US resolution welcoming a fact-finding mission to look into Israeli military action in Jenin.

Israel today told UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that it would welcome a fact-finding mission to look into Israeli military action in Jenin and other Palestinian cities, a UN spokesman said.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged Israel to stop its assault on Yasser Arafat’s headquarters, saying destroying it will not bring peace.

One by one, Arab nations promised to co-operate in the fight against terrorism even Sudan and Libya, which are on the US list of nations sponsoring terrorism.