Arafat admits PNA officials misuse power

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat admitted Wednesday that some Palestinian officials had misused their positions and called for efforts to correct "all the mistakes".

Arafat's statement came in a speech he addressed before the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in Ramallah to review the current situation in the Palestinian territories.

"There is no one in this world that doesn't make mistakes. We want everyone to stand and review what we have done, where we were right and where we were mistaken," said Arafat.

"We need to move together to correct and reform all the mistakes," added the the veteran Palestinian leader.

Mass demonstrations were held both within the Gaza Strip and the West Bank last month to protest against the rampant corruption in the Palestinian National Authority following a wave of kidnappings and arson attacks on government buildings.

Arafat has been under pressure to take anti-corruption reforms amid a brewing factional struggle in the Gaza Strip in anticipation of Israel's expected withdrawal from Palestinian territory in 2005.

Source: Xinhua