RAMALLAH, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Sources close to the PalestinianNational Authority (PNA) said on Tuesday that a temporarycollective leadership is to be formed following the possible deathof Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

    They said that the leadership would consist of former PrimeMinister Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and ChairmanSalem Zanoun of the Palestine National Council.

    "The three leaders would be leading the temporary leadership ofthe Palestinian people in case President Arafat, who is fightingdeath, is officially declared dead," said the sources.

    However, according to the Palestinian charter, or basic law, thespeaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Rawhi Fatouh,should be the temporary chairman of the PNA for 60 days untilgeneral and presidential elections are held.

    But Palestinian politicians said that since Fatouh does notrepresent any political heaviness on the Palestinian politicalstage, Abbas, better known as Abu Mazen, and Qurei would remain theluckiest candidates to rule the PNA.

    Abu Mazen is the second man in the Palestine LiberationOrganization (PLO) and its Executive Committee's general secretary,and he is considered the man who would lead the Palestinians afterArafat.

    Qurei is the second man who leads the PNA and the Council forNational Security.

    Fatouh is the speaker of the PLC, and is trusted by Arafat.Fatouh was elected as the speaker in March to replace Qurei.

    Fatouh, originally from Rafah refugee camp, returned to Gazaafter living for 30 years in exile and served as the minister ofagriculture in previous cabinets.

    It is difficult to hold the general and presidential electionsdue to Israeli closures on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.Enditem