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Wednesday, April 1, 2009

U.S. won't accept Palestinian PM's resignation

RAMALLAH Ñ Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is expected to ignore his resignation and remain in position.   

Officials said Fayyad has come under strong U.S. pressure to remain prime minister despite his resignation. The resignation, submitted on March 7, had been scheduled to become effective on March 31, Middle East Newsline reported.

"The Americans don't want Fayyad to leave," a PA official said. "They have invested a lot in this man."

Officials said Fayyad, who convened his latest Cabinet meeting on March 30, was expected to remain in his post until the formation of a proposed Fatah-Hamas unity government. But they said the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama would press for Fayyad to retain a leading portfolio.

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Under Fayyad, the PA security forces have undergone restructuring and reform financed by the United States. The U.S. State Department has overseen the training of more than 1,500 officers from the PA Presidential Guard and National Security Force.

"Fayyad is responsible for all salaries, particularly to the security forces," the official said. "In this way, he has taken control of operations."

Officials said PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas also wants Fayyad to remain in power. Abbas has been in Qatar for an Arab League summit and was expected to return to Ramallah in early April.

"Abbas is very comfortable with Fayyad, and there is very little chance that he will ask another person to be prime minister," the official said.

Fayyad, head of the 15-member Cabinet, has been opposed by the Hamas regime as well as many in the ruling Fatah movement. He has been accused of following orders from Washington and denying funding to Fatah.



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