Qurei withdraws resignation

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia on Tuesday retracted his resignation, ending a two-week standoff with President Yasser Arafat that plunged Palestinian politics into turmoil.

"The president refused my resignation and I will comply," Qureia told a news conference in the West Bank City of Ramallah.

"This is a new step toward reform and imposing the rule of law," he said. "There will be actions on the ground."

Qureia resigned earlier this month in frustration at Arafat's refusal to let him restructure the security forces and deal with growing unrest in the Palestinian areas.

The two men emerged from a closed-door meeting, kissing each other on the cheeks and clasping and holding up their hands together.

Palestinian officials said Arafat had agreed to allow ministers and security chiefs in the Palestinian Authority to exercise their power over their own jurisdictions.

Arafat's almost absolute control over the Palestinian Authority has been a source of frustration for the United States and other countries hoping to promote reform among the Palestinian leadership.

Qureia's resignation two weeks ago coincided with a wave of kidnappings, riots and calls for reform that put Arafat in one of his most difficult positions since returning to the Palestinian territories from exile a decade ago.

However, speaking to reporters, Qureia denied that he and Arafat agreed on granting the prime minister more authority over the all important Palestinian security apparatus.

"I'm not going to bargain with the president about authority over the security branches," Qureia said. "We have enough powers over them as it stands."

Qureia's decision to remain in office ends the stalemate between the prime minister and Arafat that called into question Arafat's ability to rein in dissident elements of his ruling Fatah movement.

Fatah rebels had called for an overhaul of the Palestinian security forces, including the replacement of Arafat's disliked cousin, Moussa Arafat, as head of security in the Gaza Strip.

Moussa Arafat's appointment two weeks ago set off demonstrations in Gaza by members of the president's own Fatah movement an unprecedented display of public discord.

The protesters demanded that Moussa Arafat be removed as head of security in Gaza, charging that he was tainted with corruption, including weapons and drugs smuggling.

In his comments, Qureia made no reference to any security overhaul.

However, Hassan Abu Libdeh, General Secretary of the Cabinet, said Arafat and Qureia had agreed to grant more power to officials overseeing the security forces.

Source: Agencies