New Palestinian cabinet sworn in

Qurei (centre) was involved in tough negotiations over his new line-up

A new Palestinian cabinet dominated by professional experts has been sworn in in Ramallah, ending days of heated discussions and political deadlock.

Earlier legislators backed Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei's 24-strong team with a 54-12 vote and four abstentions.

The move came after Mr Qurei agreed to demands by the main Fatah faction not to appoint veterans from the Arafat era - which was widely seen as corrupt.

Mr Qurei said the new government was faced with "enormous responsibility".

The new cabinet was sworn in at the headquarters of Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas.

Success in constructing a cabinet drawn from outside the ranks of parliament meant a "happy day for the Palestinian people", Mr Abbas said.

KEY CABINET CHANGES Nasser Yousef - tough ex-general becomes interior minister Nasser al-Kidwa - ex-representative to UN becomes foreign minister Salam Fayyad - reformist finance minister keeps his post Nabil Shaath - ex-foreign minister becomes deputy PM and information minister Saeb Erekat - chief negotiator loses his cabinet post Full cabinet list

Mr Qurei faced losing his job after Fatah MPs rejected his initial proposal for a cabinet with just four newcomers.

On Wednesday Mr Abbas met fellow Fatah members to urge their support for Mr Qurei's revised list.

Thursday's swearing-in could lead to reform of the Palestinian Authority - a key aspect of Mr Abbas's policy to boost Palestinian credibility in future negotiations with Israel, analysts say.

Technocratic cabinet

The new cabinet has 17 newcomers - with virtually all of the new ministers being experts in the field they are to oversee, correspondents say.

They are being described as technocrats, or a practical government brought in to tackle corruption.

Among the key appointments is Nasser Yousef as interior minister.

This makes Mr Yousef - a former general - responsible for the Palestinian security services.

Another crucial post of foreign minister was given to former envoy to the United Nations Nasser al-Kidwa.

Reformist Finance Minister Salam Fayad kept his job

Mr Qurei managed to retain Arafat ally Nabil Shaath, naming him deputy prime minister and information minister.

But the prime minister had to drop seven Arafat veterans, including chief negotiator Saeb Erekat.