Palestinians call for peace talks

Observers say Mr Arafat's death could be a new chance for peace

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei has called for a speedy resumption of peace efforts with Israel, a day after Yasser Arafat's burial in Ramallah.

Mr Qurei said now was the time to get serious, and with determination they could reach an agreement "in a very short time".

He said there would be an election to replace Mr Arafat by 9 January.

Jailed West Bank Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti is considering a bid, his wife Fadwa has told AFP news agency.

Barghouti is in an Israeli jail serving five consecutive life sentences, but many consider him to be the most popular leader after Mr Arafat.

ARAFAT'S SUCCESSORS Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei - will take charge of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas - the former prime minister will lead the PLO, the umbrella body bringing together most Palestinian factions Farouk Kaddoumi - will head the Fatah faction Who could follow Arafat? Arab press bids farewell

The Palestinian parliamentary speaker, Rawhi Fattuh, has taken over as caretaker president of the Palestinian Authority until the election, which must be held within 60 days.

Mr Qurei appealed for international help to enable voter registration in the occupied territories.

And he called for international help to restart the Middle East peace process.

"I'm saying to the American administration, to President Bush to the Israelis and to the whole world, now is the period where we should be more serious," he said.

"If we are determined to do it we can do it in a very short time."

In Washington on Friday, US President George Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair have expressed hopes for a renewed peace effort but made no concrete proposals on how to advance the peace process.

Gaza plan

Observers say Mr Arafat's death on Thursday in a French hospital could present a new opportunity for peace.

In recent years, Israel and the US had refused to deal with Mr Arafat calling him a terrorist and an obstacle to peace.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been pressing ahead with a unilateral plan to withdraw settlers from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank next year.

The Israelis have also been building a controversial barrier in the West Bank, which it says it needed to protect its citizens from Palestinian militant attacks. Palestinians say it is an attempt to grab land.

Mr Arafat, 75, died after suffering multiple-organ failure, but the exact cause of his illness and death is still not clear.

He had been flown to Paris on 29 October after weeks of mystery stomach pains. He fell into a coma on 3 November and never regained consciousness.

A military funeral was held in the Egyptian capital Cairo and he was buried in the West Bank town of Ramallah near the battered compound where he was confined by Israeli forces for more than two-and-a-half years.