Palestinians sideline Arafat to seal prime minister position

THE Palestinian parliament yesterday gave final approval to a bill defining the role of a future prime minister and rebuffed attempts by Yasser Arafat to dilute the authority of the new post.

Mr Arafat has been wrangling with an increasingly assertive parliament over giving some of his sweeping powers to a prime minister.

Ahead of yesterday's parliament session, he dropped a demand to retain a say over appointing Cabinet ministers. His defeat in that dispute signalled a further weakening of his influence a process that began about a year ago amid growing dissatisfaction among Palestinians with his leadership.

The power struggle between Mr Arafat and the parliament is watched closely by international mediators, who have sought to sideline the Palestinian leader. President George W Bush said last week that installing a credible Palestinian prime minister with real powers is a prerequisite for unveiling a US-backed, three-year "road map" to Palestinian statehood.

Legislator Hanan Ashrawi said yesterday's vote was a watershed for the Palestinians.

"It's the beginning of a transition, it is certainly a turning point and a qualitative shift in the political culture," she said. "Now we have power-sharing that is clearly spelled out."

The prime minister's bill paves the way for further government reforms sought by the US.

It was approved in a third and final reading yesterday with 69 votes and one abstention. Mr Arafat now has to sign the legislation and then would formally offer the job to his preferred candidate, Mahmoud Abbas, the No 2 leader in the PLO.

Mr Abbas, a moderate who has spoken out against the 30-month-old armed uprising against Israel, is also the prime minister favoured by the US and Israel.

Last month, Mr Arafat agreed under intense international pressure to appoint a prime minister to take over the day-to-day affairs of government.