Arafat postpones decision on prime minister post

The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has postponed the ratification of the special law providing for the establishment of the post of the prime minister in the Palestinian authority.

Arafat calls for introducing two amendments in the law including the restoration of his right to call on the Authority's Cabinet for a meeting. Arafat was expected to ratify the law on Thursday ( yesterday).

Arafat's aides said that the draft law was submitted to the Palestinian President for signature last Tuesday but he asked that the President -- not only the prime minister -- to have the right to call the cabinet for a meeting, as well as the right of the President ( Arafat ) to attend the meetings of the ministerial council.

The Palestinian legislative council agreed unanimously last Monday to establish the post of the prime minister. It is a step that comes in response to one of the main demands called upon by international mediators to make reforms in the Palestinian Authority.

For his part, Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazin), said he will not decide whether to accept the post of the prime minister proposed to him by Arafat and agreed to by the Council except after the Palestinian parliament defines the sort of authorities the prime minister post will have.