Arafat choice for PM named

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has told his Fatah movement that he wants parliamentary speaker Ahmed Qurei as his next prime minister, Palestinian officials say.

Mr Qurei, also known as Abu Ala, would replace Mahmoud Abbas, whose resignation on Saturday threw the Palestinian leadership into turmoil.

A senior Palestinian official quoted by Reuters news agency said "Arafat has told the Fatah leadership that he nominates Abu Ala to form a new government".

Mr Arafat was discussing the leadership crisis with his Fatah colleagues at a closed-door meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Sunday.

But there is still no confirmation that Mr Arafat has formally accepted the resignation of Mr Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, who could still head a caretaker government.

According to Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki, quoted by the AFP news agency, "the candidature of Abu Ala was unanimously recommended" at the session chaired by Mr Arafat.