RAMALLAH/GAZA, Oct. 3 (Xinhuanet by Saud Abu Ramadan) -- A fierce debate in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) on Monday ended up with a majority vote for a motion of no-confidence in Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei's cabinet.

   43 PLC members voted in favor of no-confidence, 5 voted against and 5 abstained after accusing the cabinet of failing to stem the security deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

   The sources said that the PLC members called on Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to form a transitional cabinet in the coming two weeks.

   The sources said that the new transitional cabinet would be responsible for imposing law and order and preparing for the legislative council elections due to be held on Jan. 25, 2006.

   The PLC (parliament) session was held in both Gaza City and the West Bank city of Ramallah at the same time by the videoconference system.

   PLC members in Gaza were not able to reach Ramallah as Israel closed down the Palestinian territories on the eve of the Jewish New Year holiday that starts on Tuesday and ends on Wednesday night.

   The PLC session came several hours after the armed clashes between Hamas militants and Palestinian police in Gaza City killed three Palestinians and wounded 50 others.

   The PLC session, which was described as "fiery", was broadcast live on several Arab and local television stations, where its members blamed the current cabinet for the worsening security.

   Some PLC members called on interior minister Nasser Yousef to resign and others including chief negotiator Saeb Erekat blamed Hamas for the recent riots.

   Qurei admitted that he was responsible for the current security deterioration while Yousef said that the Palestinian security apparatuses were not able to control the chaos that dominated the territories.

   PLC member Hassan Asfour told Yousef frankly and face to face "Why don't you just go home since you admit that your security forces failed to control the security situation."

   During the session, several police officers broke into the yardof the PLC headquarters in Gaza City, fired in the air and called for tough measures against Hamas militants.

   Abdel Jawad Salleh, a well-known opponent in the council, urged all the different chiefs of security and police apparatuses to resign and be replaced by competent ones.

   He also called for amending the Palestinian constitution "in order to be able to question the president (Abbas)."   Former minister of Justice Freih Abu Meddein, who is also member of the PLC, said that the problem is not the cabinet, "it is the problem of the political system."

   He said the 13 Palestinian factions, including the ruling Fatah, were responsible for the current security deterioration and that each party acted for its own interests.

   He urged the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West bank to take to the streets immediately in protest at the failure of both the Palestinian Authority and all the factions in curbing the violence. Enditem