Oreikat looms not to accept minister for negotiations affairs; People's front stays out of government

The People's Front for Liberation of Palestine has apologized for not taking part in the new Palestinian government which its designated prime minister has almost finished its formation.

This came following a meeting between Prime Minister Ahmad Qrei and the front's secretary general Ahmad Sadaat who justified their position in that the roadmap which was adopted by the Palestinian leadership and the government is nothing but "a liquidation project" rejected by the front.

Following the meeting a statement by the front said that Saadat explained to Qrei that the current Palestinian crisis requires having a comprehensive national dialogue. The statement stressed the need of continued meetings between the front and the Palestinian authority to debate internal issues.

Meantime, member of the Palestinian legislative council Saeb Oreikat indicated the possibility that he will not accept the post of the minister for negotiations affairs in the forthcoming government. He justified that in that negotiations with Israel is the authority of the Palestine Liberation Organization PLO, rather than the government of the Palestinian authority.

Oreikat said in a telephone cal with al-Jazeera that it is difficult to have together his post as a chairman for the department of negotiations affairs at the PLO and another post. But he stressed his full support for the government of Qrei and voting for it during its debate before the legislative council, noting that it is premature now to talk about the final composition of the government.

This however is made while Qrei is preparing to present his government before the Palestinian legislative council next Thursday but after it gets a prior consent from the PLO executive committee.

Observers indicate that President Yasser Arafat whom Israel seeks to isolate will get prominent influence in the new government, while the former government chaired by Mahmoud Abbas was trying to diminish some of his authorities especially in the security area.