Ahmed Qurei, To form crisis Palestinian government
Ariel Sharon
Returning home from India
Palestinian prime minister-designate Ahmed Qurei is to present his self-styled emergency government for parliamentary approval tomorrow, according to sources in the Palestinian Legislative Council.
News that Qurei would seek formal parliamentary approval came just hours after he agreed to take on the job in succession to Mahmoud Abbas.
In Washington, US President George W Bush called on Mr Qurei to prove his commitment to the roadmap to Middle East peace, by quelling anti-Israeli attacks.
Earlier, the speaker of the Palestinian Parliament said he accepted the nomination as Prime Minister, and would form what he called a crisis government.
Mr Qurei - regarded as a moderate - was nominated by President Yasser Arafat earlier this week following the surprise resignation of Mr Abbas.
Speaking in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Mr Qurei said he felt he had to face the latest crisis in the peace process and would take a risk.
Palestinian Authority condemns missile strike
Meanwhile the Palestinian Authority condemned an Israeli missile strike in which two people were killed in Gaza City this morning.
The attack, carried out by an Israeli warplane, was aimed at the home of a senior official of the militant Islamic group, Hamas.
The official, Mahmoud al-Zahar, survived with only slight injuries, but two men said to be his adult son and a bodyguard were killed.
The attack took place after two suicide bombings in Israel yesterday for which Hamas claimed responsibility.
Thirteen people as well as the two bombers were killed in the attacks in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Calls for international observers
The Palestinian Authority again called for international observers to be sent to the West Bank and Gaza.
The chairman of the authority's external committee, Marwan Vanifari, said Israel's policy of retaliation only made matters worse.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, is cutting short a visit to India to return home following yesterday's attacks.
The United States has condemned the Hamas bombings. A White House spokesman described them as vicious attacks.
