RAMALLAH, Nov. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Interim Palestinian President Rawhi Fattouh has authorized the cabinet and its Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei to exercise full executive power, Palestinian official sources said Wednesday.

    In one of his first decrees since being named to replace late leader Yasser Arafat, Fattouh announced that the government would exercise executive power as specified in the Palestinian basic law.

    Observers said the move was significant as it marked a shift ofexecutive power from the presidency to the government.

    Arafat passed away on Nov. 11 in a military hospital outside Paris and Fattouh, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council(PLC), was named as his interim successor until presidential elections were held in January. Enditem