Palestinian premier to name new cabinet
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia has said that obstacles preventing the formation of his new 26-strong cabinet have been finally overcome and his government’s exact line-up would be handed to parliament for a confidence vote on Wednesday.
The chief sticking point has been the appointment of the interior minister but that was resolved on Friday when Mr Qureia finally accepted President Yasser Arafat’s nomination.
Mr Qureia’s predecessor, reformist premier Mahmoud Abbas, left office after a make or break showdown with Mr Arafat over the pivotal issue of who controlled the security forces in the Gaza Strip.
Under the newly penned agreement, command of Palestinian security forces now falls to a national council led by Mr Arafat.
Separately, Israel’s cabinet has approved a prisoner exchange with the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah.
Backed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the cabinet voted 12-11 in favour of the swap.
Around 400 jailed Palestinians and Lebanese were traded for a kidnapped Israeli businessman and the bodies of three Israeli soldiers.
