Abbas demands stronger support from parliament

Ramallah

Pledging his commitment to salvage the peace plan, Mr Abbas sought new powers he sees as vital to diplomacy but which the Palestinian president has been reluctant to grant, officials said.

Throwing down a gauntlet to a parliament dominated by Arafat loyalists, Mr Abbas said power-sharing problems needed to be addressed and he would quit if he did not get his way.

"Either provide the possibility of strong support for carrying out (the mandate) or you can take it back," he said in a speech to the Palestinian legislative council while dozens of protesters stood outside chanting slogans against him.

Mr Abbas's departure after just four months in office could doom the US-brokered peace roadmap already under threat from fresh bloodshed and the cancellation of a ceasefire by Islamic militants.

There was no immediate indication that parliament would be asked to vote confidence in the reformist prime minister, appointed by Mr Arafat in April under international pressure.

Speaking in even tones, he blamed Israel for a lack of progress in peace moves and said the United States had done too little to restrain the Israeli army.

"We reiterate that we will continue our efforts to restore calm in preparation for the resumption of the political path," he said.

Israeli officials declined immediate comment on Mr Abbas's remarks.

Abbas said he would seek a return to implementation of the peace roadmap, which outlines reciprocal steps to end almost three years of violence since the Palestinians began an uprising against Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

"I tell you frankly that our serious attempts to arrange a mechanism to revive the political path with the Israelis did not get a sufficient response," Mr Abbas said. "I don't think anybody in the world disagrees with me that the Israeli side is responsible for this."

Israel blames the violence on the Palestinians and says the truce collapsed because of a suicide bombing which killed 21 people on an Israeli bus in Jerusalem on August 19.

The power struggle between Mr Abbas and Mr Arafat has centred on Abbas's demand, backed by the United States, for control over the security forces who are crucial for reining in militants as required by the road map.

Mr Arafat has retained authority over most security services, drawing US and Israeli accusations that he is trying to undermine Mr Abbas