Crisis for Arafat as Cabinet falls

Palestinian leader humiliated

Arafat's critics said the humiliation dished out yesterday to the man who has single-handedly ruled the Palestinian movement for decades was an indication of grass-roots dissatisfaction over a regime accused of corruption and inefficiency.

Salah Taameri, a legendary Palestinian fighter-turned-politician, said he had been an Arafat ally for 36 years, but "there is a crisis of confidence" and he was supporting the opposition.