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Abbas Faces Crisis Over Gaza Chaos
 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas faced a brewing political crisis yesterday as he scrambled to quell chaos in Gaza following Israelâs withdrawal from the territory. Lawmakers submitted a request for a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei and his cabinet, all Abbas appointees, in protest at the failure of security forces to control lawlessness after 38 years of Israeli occupation. Abbas can ill afford further political instability as he struggles to impose order in the Gaza Strip, which is seen as a proving ground for Palestinian aspirations of statehood.A government shakeup could create problems for Abbas and his ruling Fatah faction in the run-up to long-delayed parliamentary elections scheduled for January. Reflecting growing public anger over the wave of anarchy, 16 Palestinian lawmakers, including Fatah members and independents, requested a special session for a no-confidence vote that could take place as early as next week. At least 43 lawmakers in the 86-member Palestinian Legislative Council must cast a vote of no confidence in the government to bring it down. Posted by: Fred 2005-09-16 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=129690 |