Shibli named as PLO secretary-general

RAMALLAH, West Bank, April 18 (UPI) -- Omar Shibli, also known as Abu Ahmed, has been appointed secretary-general of the Palestinian Liberation Front.

Shibli succeeds Mohammed Abbas, who died last month while in U.S. military custody in Iraq, which is a major backer of the PLF.

Abbas had been the leader of the hijackers who seized an Italian cruise ship, the Achille Lauro, in 1985. The passengers included an American in a wheelchair, Leon Klinghoffer, who was killed.

Shibli, who is based in Gaza City, said he intends to increase activities in the Palestinian Authority, the Middle East Newsline said. The chairman of the authority is Yasser Arafat.