Arafat critic shot in Ramallah

Amr has led calls for reforms of the Palestinian Authority

Former Palestinian cabinet minister Nabil Amr has been shot and injured by gunmen in Ramallah in the West Bank.

Mr Amr, an ex-information minister who is now a Palestinian MP, was hit twice in the right leg as he walked home late on Tuesday, his family said.

Medics said Mr Amr, who has been urging democratic reforms in the Palestinian Authority, was not seriously wounded.

The attack comes amid the growing lawlessness in the Gaza Strip where militants are demanding reforms.

Earlier on Tuesday, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei - who wanted to quit over the issue - agreed to stay in his post for the time being.

The Palestinian leadership is embroiled in a crisis over who should run the security and intelligence services.

Mr Qurei condemned the shooting of Mr Amr as a "cowardly attack" and said it was a manifestation of the "deep security crisis that rages among our people and leadership".

Leading reformer

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack against Mr Amr, whose house had been shot at in the past.

Mr Amr, 47, has often complained about corruption and cronyism in Mr Arafat's administration.

Mr Amr - who represents Mr Arafat's Fatah movement in the parliament - served in the short-lived government of Mahmoud Abbas last year, but resigned complaining he was given virtually no power.

A year ago, Mr Amr's house was shot at after he severely criticised Mr Arafat's leadership.