GAZA, Nov. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) selected Monday a new PLC speaker to replace Ahmed Qurei, who has been designated as prime minister of the Palestinian National Authority.

    Rafiq Al Natche, a Fatah movement candidate, earned 50 out of 84 votes in the PLC session held in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Enditem

Qurei not to present new cabinet Tuesday: sources

    GAZA, Nov. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei will not present his new cabinet to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) on Tuesday, Palestinian sources said Monday.

    Qurei will not present his cabinet on Tuesday because of the ongoing disputes over the competences and title of interior minister, the sources said.

    Meanwhile, Qurei will meet Monday with the Fatah lawmakers to present the current developments concerning the forming of his new cabinet, Fatah sources said.

    The sources admitted that the disputes over the interior minister have not been solved yet.

    Palestinian sources have repeatedly said Qurei intended to hand over the interior portfolio to Nasser Yousef, while Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat refused to let Yousef be part of the cabinet.

    However, sources close to Arafat said the veteran Palestinian leader might reconsider his position and allow Yousef to join the new cabinet. Enditem