Palestinian PM agrees to revamp cabinet

The compromise, following a one-day delay in parliamentary ratification of a cabinet, appeared to pave the way for new President Mahmoud Abbas to press ahead with promised reforms of the Palestinian Authority and peace efforts with Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was deep in political crisis yesterday over the inclusion of members of Yasser Arafat's corruption-tainted "old guard" in a new cabinet up for approval by a reform-minded legislature.

Lawmakers from Abbas's Fatah faction threatened to vote no-confidence in the government, a move that would force Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei from office, unless changes were made in the cabinet line-up before parliament met later in the day.

Abbas and pro-reform legislators have been trying to persuade Qorei to drop some Arafat loyalists widely seen by Palestinians as corrupt and include more new faces in the government, especially technocrats who can help it run smoother.

"Fatah members of the legislature will meet before parliament convenes. If they don't receive (the changes), they will proceed with voting no-confidence in Abu Ala (Qorei)," a legislator from the faction told Reuters.

Negotiations Affairs Minister Saeb Erekat described the situation as difficult but said: "That is what democracy is all about."

Abbas, who would be under no obligation to leave office if Qorei does, is under pressure from the United States and other international donors to revamp often competing security forces and fight corruption.