RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat Sunday won approval from the Palestine Liberation Organization to name parliament Speaker Ahmed Qurei as the next prime minister.
Qurei, also known as Abu Ala, is expected to respond to the selection in a matter of days, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Qurei, a moderate who helped broker the Oslo accords, would replace Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, who quit his post Saturday blaming the United States and Israel for the failure of his premiership. Abbas said his decision was final.
The Post quoted sources as saying Abbas may leave the Palestinian territories for a "long stay" in one of the Arab countries.
Abbas' resignation followed a power struggle with Arafat over who would control security forces. Abbas had been under pressure from the United States and Israel to dismantle militant organizations responsible for the suicide bombings that have killed scores in the Jewish state.
There was no immediate indication whether Qurei, 66, a veteran PLO leader, would be willing to serve if Arafat maintained control of security forces.
