National News Qureia appointed prime minister as further violence rocks peace process

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RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Palestinian parliament speaker Ahmed Qureia accepted the post of prime minister Sept. 10.

Qureia was nominated by Yasser Arafat on Sept. 7 to replace Mahmoud Abbas, who resigned over the weekend amid a power struggle with the veteran Palestinian leader.

Abbas resigned Sept. 6 after four months in his post, dealing a setback to the peace plan, which seeks to establish a Palestinian state by 2005. Israel and the United States have refused to deal with Arafat, whom they accuse of fomenting terrorism.

Qureia said his government's top priority will be strengthening and unifying the eight branches of the Palestinian security services.

He initially demanded guarantees that Israel will change its policies, including halting military strikes and targeted killings of militants. Israel has refused to do so.

The announcement by Qureia came after days of indecision and appeared to have been spurred by a new spike in violence.

Twin Palestinian suicide bombings - one at a bus stop crowded with soldiers near Tel Aviｖ, the second five hours later at a popular Jerusalem nightspot - killed at least 15 Israelis and wounded dozens.

Nobody claimed responsibility, but the Islamic militant group Hamas, which has carried out most of the roughly 100 suicide bombings against Israelis over the last three years, had been expected to avenge Israel's Sept. 6 attempt on the life of its spiritual leader.

Israel's military has relentlessly targeted Hamas militants since the group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing last month that killed 22 people on a Jerusalem bus. Earlier Sept. 9, Israeli troops in Hebron killed two Hamas members, including the group's leader there, and a 12-year-old bystander, and blew up a seven-story apartment building where the militants were hiding.

パレスチナ新首相にクレイ氏

パレスチナ自治政府のアッバス首相の辞任を受け、自治政府のアラファト議長から後任の首相として指名されていたパレスチナ評議会のアハメド・クレイ議長が10日、首相就任を受諾した。

Shukan ST: Sept. 19, 2003

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