The First deputy for the Palestinian Legislative council (PLC) Hassan Khreishe said on Thursday that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's speech before the PLC is a good-intention beginning.

Khreishe told reporters the speech is "historical" and may institute a new period.

However, PLC member Azmi Al Shaebi said that it's not enough to support Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei but the Palestinian cabinet must be given the authority to use its rules, adding that the PLC recommendations must be implemented.

The chief of the supervision committee, Palestinian deputy Jamalal Shati said that the speech would remain the same as other speeches "unless it is linked with a presidential decree that imposes the public sectors (security and military)." He added that this decree "must include implementing the basic law and executing the reforms that had been approved by the PLC."

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

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