Arafat chooses Abu Mazin as a prime minister, power is undefined

A Palestinian official announced yesterday that the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat appointed the secretary general of the executive committee for the PLO Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazin) to hold the post of Prime Minister to is to be created. Abu Mazin said he will not accept a symbolic position, calling for defining the nature of authorities he will enjoy.

The chairman of the Palestinian legislative council, Ahmad Qrei, said that Arafat nominated Abu Mazin to assume the post of the Prime Minister and that the Palestinian central committee and the legislative council will take necessary steps to approve the nomination during a series of consultation that will start on Saturday. Arafat's nomination of Abu Mazin came during a meeting for the PLO executive committee.

Abu Mazin said he did not decide to agree to assuming the post. He added he will only make a decision "after knowing the nature of authorities he will have." He explained "I will answer positively or negatively after knowing the authorities which the prime minister will enjoy." Meantime, the Israeli government has permitted 110 members of the Palestinian legislative and central councils to meet in Ramullah within the few coming days in order to elect a prime minister.