US Wanted More Power for Palestinian PM: Powell

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 19, 2003

US Wanted More Power for Palestinian PM: Powell

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The United States on Tuesday expressed welcome to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)'s approval of creating a new post of prime minister, saying that it wants to see a Palestinian prime minister with greater authority.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters at the State Department, "We respond favorably to it. We will present the roadmap to the prime minister when he is officially confirmed," praising the development as "a positive step forward."

"We would have preferred to see even greater authority vested in a prime minister but it is nevertheless a positive step," he said.

Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat Tuesday signed a bill to create a prime minister post in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

The move came after the PLC on Tuesday approved creating a new post of prime minister following a compromise between Arafat and parliament members over the position's authority.

Ahead of Tuesday's parliament session, Arafat dropped a demand to keep a say over the list of a cabinet formed by the prime minister.

Arafat had earlier requested that when the new Prime Minister forms his cabinet he should first present it to him for approval before it is presented to the PLC for approval. But his proposal was rejected by most of the PLC members.

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