(MSNBC) Arafat will retain control of security forces and peace negotiations even after his deputy Mahmoud Abbas is appointed prime minister, a senior Palestinian official said Sunday. The deal sidesteps key reform demands by Israel and the U.S. that Arafat hand over authority to a powerful prime minister. Palestine Central Council head Riad Zanoun said Arafat has the power to appoint and dismiss the premier, whose "duty will be to help President Arafat." Shimon Peres said the appointment is less significant than the power retained by armed forces outside the realm of the Palestinian Authority, like the militant group Hamas. However, he supported Abbas in principle. "I believe he will make a very serious effort to extract the Palestinian side from the current situation," he said.
2003-03-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive