Middle East roadmap peace plan is dead, claims Arafat

PALESTINIAN leader Yasser Arafat declared the roadmap for peace plan dead as his rival, Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas, said he would quit if he doesn't win a vote of confidence.

Mr Abbas is insisting on a vote of confidence from parliament, raising the possibility of a showdown between the two Palestinian leaders.

"Abbas will ask for support for his policies or he leaves," Palestinian information minister Nabil Amr said in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The moderate prime minister will address parliament today to report on his performance four months after Mr Arafat under international pressure to advance a 'roadmap for peace' plan for ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict appointed him.

"Abbas will reiterate that the cabinet must be fully empowered, especially in the security and administrative fields," Mr Amr said. "He will clearly ask for backing of his policies based on the principle of one authority, respect for the rule of law, and rejection of illegal weapons."

Mr Abbas has no legal right to ask parliament for a vote of confidence, but aides said he would deem the general message conveyed by lawmakers in the debate as the verdict.

Mr Abbas, who is increasingly unpopular, could be toppled in a parliament vote, throwing the already troubled US-backed peace plan into greater turmoil.

Mr Arafat speaking to CNN from his Ramallah headquarters, where he has been confined by Israeli forces for the last 20 months: "The roadmap is dead, but only because of Israeli military aggression in recent weeks."

However, a senior adviser to Mr Arafat later insisted the Palestinians remained committed to the plan and urged its co-sponsors to work harder towards its implementation. Legislators, though, critical don't want to push Mr Abbas out and prefer he resolve his differences with Mr Arafat.

The power struggle between Mr Abbas and Mr Arafat intensified in recent weeks. Mr Abbas, backed by the US and Israel, demands Mr Arafat relinquish control of four security branches; Mr Abbas commands the other four security services. Arafat has baulked, fearing he would lose his main source of power.

Israel and the US want Mr Abbas to crack down on Hamas and other militant groups . Israel's cabinet earlier this week froze implementation of the roadmap process until Mr Abbas orders a clampdown.

Mr Abbas has taken some steps, including freezing bank accounts of Islamic charities with alleged links to Hamas, but it remains unclear if he would order a full crackdown even with full control of security .

Ahead of the parliament session, Israel sent strong warnings to the Palestinians as Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Israel will not negotiate with a new Palestinian government handpicked by Mr Arafat. Defence minister Shaul Mofaz warned Israel may expel Mr Arafat soon if he keeps getting in the way of the roadmap. Israeli security officials recently reviewed a possible expulsion, but concluded that at present it would cause more damage than benefit.