Arafat extends term of Palestinian government

PRESIDENT Yasser Arafat extended the term of a Palestinian emergency government yesterday in a sign he expected a power struggle with his prime minister to delay creation of a new cabinet.

Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie’s 30-day mandate had been due to expire at midnight. He had been expected to announce by then the lineup of a new, more permanent government considered crucial to reviving peace moves with Israel.

But in a clear indication the two leaders were having trouble agreeing on new ministers, an aide of Mr Arafat, Nabil Abu Rdainah, said the president had asked Qurie “to continue with his work and to consider the current cabinet as a caretaker until a new cabinet is formed.”